Tejano star Little Joe sues publisher for fraud, contract breach

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Grammy winner, Tejano artist, Little Joe, filed a million-dollar lawsuit against Emma Gonzalez and County Rd.34 Publishings, LLC on claims of fraud and breach of contract.

According to the lawsuit, Joe D. Hernandez and La Familia Enterprises, Inc., also known as Little Joe and La Familia, entered a written contract with Emma Gonzalez and County Rd.34 Publishing, LLC., to co-author and publish the book "Little Joe No Llore, Chingon! An American Story – The Life of Little Joe."

The lawsuit claims that Gonzalez and the company persuaded Hernandez to sign a second agreement, following an initial "[understanding] he would retain control over the work and receive royalty payments from the Book’s sales."

The second agreement, titled as Unanimous Written Consent in Lieu of Organizational Meeting of Managers of Two Cotton Pickers, LLC A Limited Liability Company, had proposed to transfer 100% of his rights in the book to County Rd.34 Publishings, LLC, the company that Gonzalez owns.

In the lawsuit, Hernandez claims that he was unaware that, under the second agreement, his rights to the book would be transferred to Gonzalez and the company.

The biography has received multiple awards, including five honors at the International Latino Book Awards, where Hernandez claims he has not received any compensation, royalties or revenue/profits generated from the book's publication.

The lawsuit claims, Gonzalez and the company continue to market, sell and profit from Hernandez's biography.

Hernandez claims Gonzalez and County Rd.34 Publishings, LLC. materially breached their initial agreement with them by failing to pay royalties and revenues under the publishing contract.

Additionally, the lawsuit accuses Gonzalez of knowingly and intentionally making false statements regarding the terms of the agreement with Hernandez.