Madonna collaborator sued for over $10 million worth of royalties

The Spirit One Music group has sued John "Jellybean" Benitez, one of Madonna's longtime co-writers, for keeping $10 million worth of royalties for the superstar's 1983 hit Holiday away from them.

According to documents filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Benitez and Spirit were to split royalties for the song, still popular after nearly 30 years, and Benitez was in charge of distributing the royalties between the two, reports the New York Post.

But the suit claims Benitez "repeatedly and unrepentantly misstated and underreported revenues due to its joint owner, Spirit," and "repeatedly, systematically and intentionally made delinquent and tardy payments" to Spirit.

The suit says Benitez has "concocted flimsy, bad-faith excuses for its inaccuracy."

Spirit wants $10 million allegedly unpaid royalties, said Spirit's lawyer, Wallace Collins.

However, reps for Benitez did not comment on the report.