Founders of the independent news network Current TV Al Gore and Joel Hyatt filed a lawsuit last Friday against Al Jazeera, claiming Al Jazeera owed millions in escrow funds after it purchased Current TV.

Al Jazeera purchased Current TV in January 2013 for an estimated $500 million to make the news channel Al Jazeera America, however the lawsuit claims that Al Jazeera paid $65 million less than the agreed amount.

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While Al Jazeera spokeswoman Dawn Bridges said they are contemplating the issue, Gore and Hyatt's attorney David Boies is much more firm.

"Al Jazeera America wants to give itself a discount on the purchase price that was agreed to nearly two years ago," Boies said in a statement.

The disputed money was allegedly supposed to go to Current TV's former shareholders.

Despite the lawsuit being under seal, the suit itself demands that it be made public. Boies said that he does not believe it is right for the lawsuit to be private, especially because Al Jazeera is a news organization.

Paul Hastings partner Richard Farley told Bloomberg TV that the private lawsuit is not unusual and happens in a variety of cases.

Hastings did comment that the $500 million was a large sum for the acquisition, but was required for Al Jazeera to penetrate the United States.

Reuters reported that selling Current TV to Al Jazeera brought Al Jazeera into about 40 million households.

Current TV struggled since its inception. The channel had suffered low ratings and financial worries, leading to scrapped partnerships and short-lived programs.

It had built a wide network, however, that Al Jazeera wanted to capitalize on to ease their creation of Al Jazeera America.

Al Jazeera America is failing to take off due to a perceived anti-American bias, The Independent noted, even after investing in big names such as former CNN presenter Soledad O'Brien.

The lawsuit is filed under fraud and breach of contract.

Tagsal gore, Al Jazeera, sued, money, current tv, News