In what has become a rite of passage for emerging pop stars, the men of 98 Degrees reportedly have been slapped with a lawsuit by their former management team.

The Associated Press reports that Top 40 Entertainment is seeking $25 million in a suit claiming Top 40 turned the group from unpolished upstarts to a professional operation, and that the organization was unceremoniously dumped by 98 Degrees before the end of its contract with the group.

The group's lawyer told the AP that 98 Degrees plans to launch a countersuit against Top 40, and the quartet had "more than ample grounds" to end its dealings with Top 40.

A record label spokesperson for 98 Degrees was not available for comment at press time.

Top 40 reportedly claims it met the then-unknowns in October 1995 and inked the group to a management deal one month later. The company then reportedly claims that it pumped money into the group and set up record deals, tours, and TV appearances before

it was fired by the group in December 1999, almost two years before its contract with 98 Degrees was to have expired.