Background of the Case
A security guard is preparing to seek a new trial in her lawsuit against Cardi B, who was previously found not guilty by a jury in September of assaulting the plaintiff at a medical office in 2018. At the time, the rapper was pregnant.
The case took place at a Beverly Hills OB-GYN office on Wilshire Boulevard on February 24, 2018. Emani Ellis, the plaintiff, worked as a security guard at the facility and alleged that Cardi B accosted her, shouting racial slurs, spitting on her, and using her long fingernails to cut her face. Both individuals are Black.
The Court's Decision
In September, the Alhambra Superior Court jury rejected Ellis’ claims, finding that Cardi B did not assault her. On Friday, Ellis’ attorney filed court papers with Judge Ian Fusselman, indicating that his client will request a new trial during a hearing scheduled for December 5. Although the notice did not include a formal motion, the lawyer mentioned that additional court documents will follow. The grounds for overturning the jury’s decision will include insufficient evidence to support the verdict and legal errors.
Cardi B's Defense
During her testimony, Cardi B, now 33, claimed that Ellis was the aggressor. She stated that the plaintiff was recording her with a phone as she entered the doctor’s office while visibly pregnant. This condition had not yet been publicly revealed by the entertainer.
According to her attorneys’ court papers, "At the time, (Cardi B) was roughly four months pregnant with her first child and had taken great care to keep her pregnancy private and away from the scrutiny of tabloids and critics."
Ellis allegedly approached the singer aggressively, engaging in a profanity-laced screaming match and appeared to be recording a video. Due to her vulnerable condition, Cardi B stepped back, and the argument ended quickly when staff from the obstetrician’s office intervened, as per the rapper’s attorneys.
Legal Proceedings
Before the trial, Ellis’ claims for civil rights violations and false imprisonment were dismissed. She filed the lawsuit in February 2020. The singer’s real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar.
After the verdict was announced, Cardi B expressed gratitude to her supporters and reiterated that she never assaulted Ellis. She emphasized, “I swear to God, I will say it on my death bed, I did not touch that woman. I did not touch that woman.”
She added, “With that being said — with that being said — this time around I’m going to be nice. But the next person that tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to counter sue and I’m going to make you pay. Because this is not OK. … Don’t you ever think that you’re going to sue me and I’m going to settle and just give you money, because it’s not going to happen.”
Post a Comment