Business partner suing composer Zimmer

Jay Rifkin contends that he helped build their company, Media Ventures Entertainment, into a "well-oiled machine," with advanced facilities and numerous resident composers who wrote parts of scores for Zimmer.

But, now Zimmer "has secretly conspired with the current resident composers to take business for himself, to the exclusion of Rifkin," according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Superior Court.

Zimmer's lawyer, Bonnie Eskenazi, said her client had been planning to end the 15-year business partnership with Rifkin for some time.

"We told Jay Rifkin that Hans was dissatisfied with Jay's management and that he was going to file for dissolution," she said.

Rifkin seeks damages in excess of $10 million for the business that he has allegedly lost as a result. Zimmer plans to file a counterclaim, Eskenazi said.

Zimmer won an Oscar in 1995 for his score on the animated blockbuster, "The Lion King." Rifkin won a Grammy and two American Music Awards for his work as a producer on the soundtrack album for the film.

Other films featuring Zimmer's music include "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Road to El Dorado," and the new Tom Cruise epic, "The Last Samurai."