Judge Refuses to Seal Nicki Minaj Videotaped Statements in Deposition

Photo Credit: Instagram/@nickiminaj 

Rapper Nicki Minaj has been denied her request to seal her videotaped statement in an ongoing legal battle with a former stylist.

The”Anaconda” rapper whose real name is Onika Maraj, has been locked in a court fight with her former stylist, Maher Jridi since October 2018.

Photo Via Instagram/ @Maher_1 
Maher Jridi – FASHION STYLIST / CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jridi claimed that his suppliers  stuck him with a bill of almost $74,000 because he could not return the rented designer items as clothing options for a series of events in 2017, including Paris Fashion Week in France.

He demanded that Minaj reimburse him for the cost of the bill and deliver damages for emotional distress, but she challenged the claims and subsequently responded with her own claim, arguing that the Frenchman owes her money because she had overpaid him. $ 12,000 for his services.

Minaj was questioned about the dispute in a statement filmed in September, but then moved to block Jridi from using the images or throwing them into the media.

The legal documents obtained by Celawbrity show Maraj/Minaj’s lawyers aid: “Given the fame of Maraj as a rapper and cheerleader of world renown, she fears that the Claimant intends to publicly disseminate the discovery of confidential documents and testimony prior to the trial to embarrass or harm her.”

Jridi’s lawyers insisted that the hip-hop star was simply trying to use her “celebrity status” to get special treatment, and the judge who oversaw the case accepted it, and dismissed Minaj’s motion.

In his ruling, the judge stated that Minaj had not provided evidence to support claims that suggested that Jridi would filter the video or explain how its release could damage her reputation.

The case continues.

Fat Joe Sued for Copyright Infringement and His Insurance Company Refuses to Back Him Up

Bronx born rapper and CEO of Terror Squad, Fat Joe  is named in a copyright infringement lawsuit related to the 2016 double-platinum single “All the Way Up.” 

Fat Joe poses with Wendy Williams, Dec. 10, 2019 after appearing on her show where he discussed his show “Family Ties” and used the platform to condemn the glorification of pill popping in the wake of the death of fellow rapper Juice Wrld.

Unfortunately, his personal liability insurer, Homeland Insurance Co. of New York has told a New York federal court it does not have to cover the rapper Fat Joe in a copyright infringement lawsuit related to the 2016 double-platinum single “All the Way Up,” as the suit doesn’t fall under their agreement.Fat Joe’s smash hit was shared with French Montana.

The policy owned by Joseph Cartagena — Fat Joe — and his company Sneaker Addict Touring LLC doesn’t cover the lawsuit filed by rapper Fly Havana as it relates to “jointly-authored and jointly-owned work,” the insurer said Friday. 

Miami based rapper Fly Havana

Fly Havana accused Fat Joe of denying him credit and compensation  for his contributions to the “All the Way Up” track. But Joe claims he paid Fly Havana $5,000 in exchange for the release of all his claims to the work.

Fat Joe, believes the lawsuit falls squarely under the insurance agreement providing coverage for “infringement and is suing for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing against Homeland. He is also seeking declaratory relief. He believes Homeland should face punitive damages “sufficient to punish it and deter similar conduct in the future.”

 

Rapper Sued For Not Delivering Promised $1 Million Reward

Harlem-based rapper/producer Ryan Leslie, pictured below, is being sued after his laptop got stolen while he was on tour in Germany. Leslie offered a $1 million reward for anyone who returns the computer, and about a month later, someone does. So instead of paying them the cool mil he promised in a very public way, he pretended like that whole reward thing never happened.  Yep…

He posted a video pleading for its return, initially offering a $20,000 reward, which he later bumped up to $1 million. About a month later, Armin Augstein found the laptop while he was walking his dog through a park in Stommelerbusch, Germany, and turned it in to authorities, who got the Macbook back to Leslie.

According to Gothamist, Augstein says he’s tried in vain to get Leslie to make good on his reward promise, all to no avail, so he’s suing Leslie for $1 million plus interest. “It’s unfortunate that my client has to go to such lengths to recover the reward,” said Augstein’s lawyer. Leslie has yet to comment on the situation.