Cardi B Wins Legal Battle for Trial Costs

Six months after a jury unanimously ruled in her favor, Cardi B has won another legal battle. A judge has granted the Grammy-winning rapper the right to recover almost $20,000 in trial costs from the security guard who sued her for assault.

Security Guard’s Claims Rejected

The security guard, Emani Ellis, had attempted to block Cardi B’s request for reimbursement, arguing that the rapper waited too long to file and that the submitted bill was inflated. However, the judge overseeing the trial found the costs to be both timely and necessary for Cardi’s defense.

Ellis’s lawyer, Ron A. Rosen Janfaza, initially indicated he might contest the ruling but ultimately decided not to submit further arguments after the judge’s tentative decision. The court officially adopted the ruling, deeming the $19,690 tab—which covered deposition costs, court reporter fees, and photocopies—as reasonable and payable to Cardi.

A Series of Legal Victories

This ruling marks the latest in a string of legal wins for Cardi B concerning the 2018 incident. The jury took only an hour to find in her favor at the civil trial, rejecting Ellis’s assault claim. Following the verdict, Judge Ian C. Fusselman denied Ellis’s request for a new trial in December.

Further strengthening Cardi’s position, Judge Fusselman also fined Ellis’s lawyer $1,500 in January for attempting to introduce irrelevant and prejudicial information about alleged gang affiliation during the trial, violating a pretrial order. The judge characterized the lawyer’s actions as a “knowing and intentional” violation.

The Original Incident and Verdict

The case stemmed from a 2018 confrontation outside a Beverly Hills medical office. Ellis claimed Cardi B assaulted her, believing Ellis was filming her while she was pregnant. Cardi B testified that there was no physical contact, only a verbal dispute. Defense witnesses, including a doctor and a receptionist, corroborated Cardi’s account, suggesting Ellis was the aggressor.

After the verdict, Cardi B even released special “Courtroom Edition” CD covers for her album ‘Am I the Drama?’, highlighting her memorable trial moments. This victory adds to her previous legal successes, including a $4 million verdict against vlogger Tasha K and dismissals of other lawsuits.