A judge has ruled that American rapper Cardi B can recover nearly $20,000 in legal costs following her successful defence against an assault claim brought by a security guard, per vibe.com. The decision, delivered on Thursday, marks the final chapter in a long-running dispute that saw a jury unanimously reject allegations made by Emani Ellis.
Ms Ellis had attempted to block the $19,690 bill, with her legal team labelling the request “a sham” and arguing the Grammy winner had missed the filing deadline. However, the presiding judge dismissed these objections, deeming the costs-which include deposition fees and court reporting-both timely and “reasonable” for the rapper’s defence.
The ruling follows a series of courtroom wins for Cardi B, born Belcalis Almánzar. During the original civil trial, jurors took just one hour to determine that Ms Ellis failed to prove she was assaulted during a 2018 confrontation at a Beverly Hills medical office. Cardi B testified that the encounter was purely verbal, a version of events supported by witnesses who suggested Ms Ellis was the aggressor.
The litigation has been fraught with tension; in January, the judge fined Ms Ellis’s solicitor $1,500 for violating a court order by questioning the “Bodak Yellow” star about alleged gang affiliations. Despite claims of sleep deprivation, the solicitor was ordered to report the sanction to the State Bar.
This victory adds to a string of legal successes for the musician, who has previously won multi-million dollar defamation suits and copyright battles. Following the initial verdict, the rapper capitalised on the media circus by releasing “Courtroom Edition” artwork for her latest album, featuring her viral trial fashion.
•Featured image: Cardi B/River Callaway/Billboard via Getty Images
