Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is being sued by author Terri Donald for allegedly stealing the plot of her book "Bad Apples Can Be Good Fruit" for his film "Good Deeds." Creative Commons

Filmmaker Tyler Perry is being sued by author Terri Donald for allegedly lifting the plot for "Good Deeds" from her book, leaving many asking if he stole the idea for the film.

According to Reuters, 36-year-old Donald, who also writes under the pseudonym TLO Red'ness, sued Perry Tuesday in federal court in Philadelphia. She said he based the film on her 2007 book "Bad Apples Can Be Good Fruit" published by Infinity Publishing.

The lawsuit filed by Donald said the author sent a copy of her book to Perry's production company before production of "Good Deeds" began.

The author is seeking $225,000 in damages and is asking for an injection for the company to add a credit for her book in the opening and closing credits of the film.

Donald is also looking for Perry's company to make the movie's revenues transparent. "Good Deeds" make approximately $35 million at the box office since its February release, Reuters reported.

Perry and Lions Gate Entertainment, both named as defendants in the suit, did not comment Tuesday.

"Good Deeds" stars Perry as a rich businessman and highlights his romance with a single mother. The book description for "Bad Apples Can Be Good Fruit" listed on Amazon reads:

"A compelling story of a woman s struggle to free herself from the past in order to move forward in the future with the man she loves. This mysterious secret must unfold in order for the woman to allow a committed vow. In this story her past unravels tragedy, murder and her secret. What the man isn t being honest about is that he also has a secret that materializes in the midst of the storm and the raging fury it holds. The two come to grips with the truths and decide for the future and what it has to offer them."