Introduction to the Case
Cardi B will not have to pay $24 million to a former security guard who claimed the altercation with the rapper in 2018 left with indelible physical and mental scars.
The Verdict
After deliberating for about an hour, a Los Angeles County jury sided with the rapper, dismissing the claims in the lawsuit filed by Emani Ellis, who was working as a security guard at a building where Cardi B’s obstetrician’s office was located.
Reaction to the Verdict
The rapper spoke out after the verdict was ready, thanking her fans and family who supported her.
"To be honest with you, I missed my kids’ first day of school today," Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, said outside the Alhambra courthouse. "I will say it in my death bed: I did not touch the woman. I did not touch that girl. I didn’t lay my hands on that girl."
The rapper, who’s had a number of legal troubles over the years, said she wants to move past the latest lawsuit brought on by Ellis but promised she won’t be as nice next time.
"The next person to try to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to counter-sue" she said. "I’m going to make you pay."
Plaintiff’s Response
Plaintiff Emani Ellis also spoke outside of court after Cardi B was found not liable.
"We know that the justice system is sometimes flawed and that was unfortunately the case for me," Ellis said. "I had my day in court. I showed up. I held my head high. She had to look me in the eye. I had to look her in the eye. We did our best."
The Altercation
The altercation that triggered the civil lawsuit happened in 2018 when Cardi B, who was hiding her first pregnancy with her husband Offset, walked into a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office.
The rapper claimed that Ellis was trying to take pictures and videos of her, which prompted Cardi B to berate the security guard.
But Ellis alleged that Cardi B verbally and physically attacked her, spitting on her and cutting her face with her fingernails, leaving a scar that required plastic surgery. Ellis also claims that Cardi B’s celebrity status led to her being fired from her job. The lawsuit seeks $24 million in damages.
Trial Testimony
The rapper’s attorneys tried to refute Ellis’ claims by bringing out a witness named Tierra Malcolm, who is the receptionist at the doctor’s office and saying Ellis was the aggressor, not the rapper.
Malcolm said when she heard the commotion in the hallway, she came out of the office and found Ellis cornering Cardi B.
The lawyer for Ellis had claimed Malcolm could not provide a complete account of what happened between the two women.
Cardi B’s lawyer also said that following the 2018 incident, because Ellis was not injured unlike what she claims, the security guard did not file a police report and go to the hospital for her injuries.
“She claims that Cardi mauled her, basically cut her face, and this woman went home, and what did she do? She took a nap,” the rapper’s attorney said in his closing argument. “ She didn’t call a doctor, she didn’t go to the hospital, she didn’t put a Band-Aid on her face. She took a nap.”
Ellis later went to a plastic surgeon to make sure the scratch marks don’t turn into scars, her lawyers had said.
Cardi B’s Testimony
The rapper herself testified during the trial last week as her clips and facial expressions made headlines and garnered attention on social media.
For one, when asked by the plaintiff’s lawyer if she was angry during the incident, Cardi B gave a straight-forward answer.
"Yes, I was angry because I’m pregnant! And this girl’s about to beat my ass. Hello?" the rapper testified.
In another exchange with Ellis’ lawyer, when the rapper was asked if she called Ellis "fat," Cardi B had a profanity-ridden response.
"No. I was calling her a b****."
In response to the social media comments about her hair and wardrobe during the trial, the rapper lightheartedly said she put a lot of effort into looking presentable in the courtroom.
"It’s been really long nights for me. I’m in the middle of an album rollout, so it’s been late nights and early 5P:30 in the morning," she said. "I’ve got to get up at 5:30, so I can look like this for you all."
Also during Cardi B’s testimony, Ellis’ lawyer asked her about her hair, noting that the day before she had short, black hair, but on the day of his questioning, she had long, blonde hair.
"Which one is your real hair? Or are they both real?" the plantiff’s lawyer asked.
Cardi B responded with a laugh and an eye-roll, simply stating that they were wigs.
After the verdict was read, the rapper made lighthearted comments about her hair before walking away.
"I’m telling you guys when I say that my forehead is raw from changing all these wigs, raw. Raw, raw raw."
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cardi B has been found not liable for the altercation with Emani Ellis in 2018. The jury sided with the rapper, dismissing the claims in the lawsuit filed by Ellis. Cardi B has expressed her gratitude to her fans and family for their support and has promised to counter-sue anyone who brings a frivolous lawsuit against her in the future.
FAQs
Q: What was the outcome of the lawsuit?
A: The jury sided with Cardi B, dismissing the claims in the lawsuit filed by Emani Ellis.
Q: How much was the lawsuit seeking?
A: The lawsuit was seeking $24 million in damages.
Q: What was the altercation about?
A: The altercation happened in 2018 when Cardi B walked into a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office and claimed that Ellis was trying to take pictures and videos of her.
Q: What did Cardi B’s lawyer say about Ellis’ claims?
A: Cardi B’s lawyer said that Ellis was not injured and did not file a police report or go to the hospital for her injuries.
Q: What did Cardi B say about her hair during the trial?
A: Cardi B said that she wore wigs during the trial and that her forehead was raw from changing them.
