‘Idol’ Studdard wins $2 million

Former “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard has been awarded $2 million in his lawsuit against his ex-manager for misappropriating the singer’s bank accounts and credit cards.

Studdard, 26, of Birmingham, Ala., won the “Idol” show in 2003 and filed suit last year against ex-manager Ronald W. Edwards and Edwards’ promotions company, claiming that Edwards misused more than $246,000 of the singer’s money.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Scott Vowell on Thursday awarded Studdard $500,000 for his actual losses and an additional $1.5 million in punitive damages, the Birmingham News reported Thursday.

Studdard has sold more than 2.2 million records, but the damage to his credit because of the fraud made it hard to obtain financing to buy a home, Vowell’s order said.