On 2/9, a jury deliberated for about an hour before finding Cardi B not liable in the lawsuit filed by Emani Ellis. Ellis accused the rapper of spitting on her and scratching her face with her nails at an obstetrician's office in Beverly Hills in 2/2018.
"Even if I was dying on a hospital bed, I swear I didn't touch that woman. I didn't lay a finger on that girl," the rapper said after the trial.
Cardi B thanked the judge and her lawyer, and warned that she would countersue if anyone tried to sue her again for "frivolous reasons." The amount Emani Ellis sought in the lawsuit wasn't specified in the court filings, but Cardi B told the court that the security guard was seeking 24 million USD in damages.
"You don't work for money and then give it away. So don't ever think I'm going to give you the money I worked hard for," Cardi B said.
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Cardi B leaves the courthouse on 2/9. Photo: PG/Bauer-Griffin |
Cardi B leaves the courthouse on 2/9. Photo: PG/Bauer-Griffin
Cardi B's testimony during the two-day trial last week was livestreamed and attracted a large audience. The rapper generated buzz for her evolving fashion style and sharp responses to the plaintiff's lawyer's questions. Emani Ellis's lawyer reprimanded the rapper for her profanity and perceived disrespect.
In court, Cardi B said she was in Los Angeles for promotional work in 2/2018 while four months pregnant with her first child with rapper Offset. She had shared the news with close friends and family but hadn't yet told her parents or the public.
The obstetrics clinic was closed that day to ensure Cardi B's privacy. The rapper said Emani Ellis, a security guard for the building, followed her up to the clinic on the fifth floor. Cardi B testified that she heard Emani Ellis say her name on the phone and appeared to be recording a video.
Cardi B explained that her pregnancy was a secret from most people at the time, and she feared Emani Ellis would publicize it. She admitted they argued but said there was no physical altercation.
"I asked, 'Why are you recording me?' She said, 'Oh my God, my bad.' She almost apologized," Cardi B recounted. But the singer said the argument escalated.
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Cardi B (left) and Emani Ellis give testimony in court last week. Photo: CourtTV |
Cardi B (left) and Emani Ellis give testimony in court last week. Photo: CourtTV
Emani Ellis testified that the incident caused her to lose her job, suffer humiliation and emotional distress, and undergo plastic surgery for a scar on her face. She sought damages including medical expenses, emotional and physical distress, lost wages, and punitive damages. While she didn't specify the total amount in the lawsuit, Cardi B told the court that Emani Ellis "sued me for 24 million USD."
A receptionist who intervened in the argument between Cardi B and Emani Ellis gave testimony that largely supported the rapper's account.
Tue Anh (According to Independent)
