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In court papers filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court and obtained by PEOPLE, Vieira is demanding more than $5 million and punitive damages from the Disney star.
Vieira claims that he and Hudgens, now 19, worked together to launch her career – and that they agreed to "share equally" in the profits. (Because the actress was a minor at the time, Vieira contends that a court approved the 2005 agreement.)
At one point, states the suit, which was first reported by TMZ.com, Hudgens sent a photo of herself to the producer, inscribing it: "Johnny, thank you for everything, without you, I would be no where, we will make it BIG – Vanessa Hudgens. Sweet."
But after High School Musical became a hit, he says she dumped him – and that she still owes him $2 million – which the documents for the suit state Vieira discovered "after an expensive audit."
There has been no comment from Hudgens's camp.
