The widow of Sammy Davis Jr. decided to sue two former business partners for the rights of his life story and the management of his legacy.

Altovise Davis said that the men convinced her to cede some of the rights of Sammy’s estate. The men also exaggerated the credentials in show business.

Mrs. Davis said that last year she was about to close a deal with a Hollywood studio for a movie about her husband when Barrett LaRoda and Anthony Francis entered the scheme asking for money and on-screen credits.

LaRoda explained himself to the Associated Press that he wanted to get Mrs. Davis more money out of the deal.

He said that Sammy’s widow was being manipulated by the man who worked along with her husband.

Last month, Mrs. Davis filed for the lawsuit, but due to the fact that it regards copyright issues, it was moved to Dallas. She asked for unspecified monetary and punitive damages.

Mrs. Davis filled a lawsuit in 2000 against Universal Music Group, which bought Sammy’s old record label, claiming that it failed to pay royalties.

The lawsuit said that things cleared during negotiations with a big studio which wanted o make a biography movie with Davis after two books written by Davis along with friends Judy and Burt Boyar. Copyright interests in the books were held by the Boyars and Mrs. Davis.

Apparently LaRoda and Francis ended the negotiations for the movie as they came and asked for more money and credit as executive producers.

Mrs. Davis was joined in her lawsuit by the Boyars Company.

LaRoda's company is also a defendant in this case.

LaRoda and Francis said in a court filling that Sammy Davis Jr. Enterprises has “life rights” to any of Davis’ work that are needed for a movie.

They claim that the royalties of Mrs. Davis quadrupled after she signed with them and said that due to their effort her husband’s image is alive.

LaRoda also said that he spent over $20,000 to Mrs. Davis to help her get treatment for her alcohol problem.

He said: “I think the movie should be made ...The sad thing here is the tarnishing" of Sammy Davis' image.”