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      *The legal drama between singer Toni Braxton and her former manager Barry Hankerson has become one big mess.

      One day after a rep for Hankerson’s Blackground Records announced that Braxton had “voluntarily dismissed” her breach-of-contract lawsuit against the label, the singer’s lawyer says that the suit has not been dismissed, but simply refiled in New York State Court.

      As previously reported, Braxton sued Hankerson and Blackground on Jan. 12, alleging he "actively sought to destroy Braxton's relationship with Arista through underhanded 'double-talk' aimed at convincing the six-time Grammy winner to sign with Blackground. Braxton is seeking $10 million in damages and the cancellation of her multi-album contract with Blackground.

      On Monday, Hankerson’s publicist released a statement announcing that Braxton had “voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit against the defendants” after the Federal court ordered her to “justify the basis of her lawsuit.”

      In a statement released from Braxton’s camp Tuesday announcing the refiling, her attorney, Peter Haviland, said the move to state court is "the fastest route to getting Toni Braxton free and clear of Barry Hankerson, since we avoid wasting time on any possible dispute over federal jurisdiction of her claims."

      On Wednesday, Hankerson’s publicist responded to Braxton’s last statement with the following release from Blackground’s attorney, Samuel E. Chilakos:

      “Last month, Toni Braxton's representatives asked that Blackground Records pay the advance contractually required for the recording of her next album. Blackground paid that advance in good faith, and just one week after the advance was paid, her representatives indicated that she would not record that album for Blackground.  Blackground responded by providing a release to Toni Braxton on January 10, 2007.  Two days later, Braxton retaliated by filing a lawsuit in the New York Federal court against Blackground Records and Barry Hankerson.     

      “On January 22, 2007, Toni Braxton was ordered by the Federal Court to either amend her lawsuit to provide further justification of its basis, or notice its removal no later than 1/29/07, or face dismissal of the lawsuit by the court.  In response to the Federal Court's order, Toni Braxton voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit.     

      “We have been advised that subsequent to her dismissal of the Federal Court lawsuit, Toni Braxton, in an apparent effort at "forum shopping," filed a new lawsuit in the New York State court.  Neither Blackground Records nor Barry Hankerson have been served with the new lawsuit; nevertheless, we are quite confident that this new lawsuit will ultimately be deemed devoid of merit. Both Blackground Records LLC and Barry Hankerson have fulfilled all of their obligations to Ms. Braxton and find it disappointing that she has chosen litigation instead of working with Blackground Records to make a hit album that could have revived her recording career.” 

      *On a completely different note, Braxton has been tapped to headline the April 9th Concert for Autism Speaks at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall, along with Bill Cosby and emcee Tom Brokaw.

      “When autism became a part of my family's reality, I was determined to join Autism Speaks in its battle against this devastating disorder that is impacting thousands of families,” said Braxton.

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