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Kanye West ordered to pay handyman $140,000
Jurors awarded $140,000 to a handyman who alleged his client was not fully compensated for work overseeing a renovation project at the Malibu mansion of rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles jury found Kanye West liable Wednesday following a two-week trial over the 'gutting' of his Malibu estate.
The verdict stems from a 2021 lawsuit filed by a former employee who claimed he suffered serious injuries and wrongful termination while working on the controversial renovation.
What we know:
Tony Saxon, a handyman and project manager, sued Ye in September 2023, claiming the rapper agreed to pay him $20,000 per week to oversee the massive remodel.
Saxon testified that he only received a single $20,000 payment despite his work.
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He further alleged that he was forced to sleep on the mansion floor and was eventually fired in November 2021 for refusing "dangerous requests" that lacked proper safety equipment.
During the trial, Ye’s testimony was characterized by frequent refrains of "I’m not sure" when asked about his role as CEO of Yeezy Construction.
The jury reached their decision late Tuesday afternoon, but Judge Brock Hammond waited until Wednesday morning to read the verdict, which fell far short of the $1.7 million Saxon's attorneys had requested.
What we don't know:
It remains unclear if Saxon’s legal team will challenge the $140,000 award, given that it represents only a fraction of the wages they claimed were owed.
Timeline:
2021: Ye hires Tony Saxon to oversee the Malibu renovation; Saxon is fired in November.
September 2023: Saxon files a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging breach of contract and wrongful termination.
October 2023: Judge Hammond orders Ye to pay $3,320 in sanctions for discovery delays.
March 10, 2026: Jury reaches a verdict just after 4 p.m.
March 11, 2026: The $140,000 verdict is officially read in court.
What's next:
Following the formal reading of the verdict, legal teams for both parties will review the jury's findings to weigh the possibility of an appeal.
If the judgment stands, the court will move toward enforcement, which includes $3,320 in sanctions previously ordered against West for discovery delays during the litigation process.
The Source: This report is based on information from Los Angeles Superior Court filings and trial testimony presided over by Judge Brock T. Hammond. City News Service contributed.