Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin has filed a lawsuit against his nephew, accusing him of extortion, malicious persecution, abuse of law and damages stemming from false allegations of sexual abuse.
Mr Martin's lawyers said the claim by the nephew, which he has since retracted, has cost the singer millions of dollars in lost income.
The lawsuit alleges that Mr Martin has been "persecuted, besieged, harassed, stalked and extorted" by his "troubled" nephew for economic reasons.
It further alleges that if the nephew does not obtain any financial benefit, he would continue to "assassinate the reputation and integrity of the artist".
The lawsuit contends the harassment has continued even though Mr Martin's nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sánchez Martin, admitted under oath in July that he had never been sexually assaulted by the artist.
Mr Sánchez had previously taken legal action against his uncle based on those false allegations, which prompted a judge in Puerto Rico to issue a restraining order against Mr Martin in July that a court later suspended.
The allegations cost Mr Martin at least $US10 million ($15 million) in lost income as a result of cancelled contracts and projects as well as $US20 million in damages to his reputation, according to the lawsuit.
The attorney who represented Mr Sánchez in that case was contacted for comment but it was not clear if she also would be representing him in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday.
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