December 18, 2008 15:55

Whitney Houston sued by stepmother

A dispute about Houston's father's life insurance policy is the cause

Whitney Houston's stepmother is suing the singer over a dispute relating to a $1 million (£650,000) insurance policy left by her father after his death in 2003.

Barbara Houston asserts that the singer owes her $723,000 (£468,000) from the policy, which is supposed to go towards the mortgage on her father's house.

The stepmother, who still lives in the house, claims that Houston is keeping the inheritance unlawfully, reports BBC News.

Lawyers for both parties refused to comment on the case, which has been filed in Newark, New Jersey.