 Ballard's two 1968 singles failed to chart and her solo album was shelved.In 1971, Ballard sued Motown for $8.7 million, claiming that Gordy and Diana Ross had conspired to force her out of the group; the judge ruled in favor of Motown.Ballard eventually sank into poverty and died abruptly on February 22, 1976 from coronary thrombosis at the age of 32.