A Los Angeles jury cleared Cardi B of liability in a civil assault lawsuit filed by a security guard. Consequently, the rapper is not required to pay any financial compensation to the plaintiff.
Both Cardi B’s attorneys and those representing Emani Ellis, the security guard, delivered their closing arguments on Tuesday. The jury reached a swift decision, taking less than an hour to deliberate in the civil case.
Outside the courtroom post-verdict, Cardi B emphatically stated, “I am not even playing around. Even if I’m in my deathbed, I swear to God, I will say it in my deathbed, I did not touch that woman. I did not touch that girl. I didn’t lay my hands on that girl.”
Grateful for the support, Cardi expressed appreciation to her legal team, the jury, and the judge. She further issued a warning that she intends to countersue should anyone bring a “frivolous lawsuit” against her in the future.
The Grammy-winning artist reiterated her gratitude towards her lawyers, the jury, and the judge involved in the proceedings, and confirmed her intent to countersue in the face of baseless legal actions.
She passionately remarked, “You don’t work at home, and you don’t work all day, and you don’t work for your money to give out your money. So don’t ever think that I’m just going to give you my money that I work hard for.”
In a press conference after the verdict was reached, Cardi asked her fans not to troll or attack Ellis online.
Despite the verdict, Ellis says she’s not disappointed. She says she plans on appealing the decision, and for her future, she says she plans on going to law school.
“It’s about accountability. I had my day in court. I showed up. I held my head high. And I can walk away and say I showed up, she had to look me in the eye, I had to look her in the eye, and we did our best,” Ellis said.
The Grammy award-winning rapper, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, was sued by Ellis, a security guard who claims the rapper hit her, scratched her face and spat on her at a Beverly Hills medical office where Ellis worked in 2018. Ellis claims the rapper’s long fingernails caused cuts on her face that required plastic surgery.
Cardi says she was pregnant at the time and was keeping it a secret.
She claims the security guard recorded her entering the OB-GYN’s office without her consent, and if there was any confrontation, there was no assault, and she didn’t touch the security guard.
The rapper’s testimony on the witness stand went viral online. She was asked on the stand if she had been angry.
“Yes, I was angry!” Because I’m pregnant!” Cardi replied. “And this girl’s about to beat my a**!”
Ellis, who lost her job over the incident, was seeking damages that include medical expenses, compensation for emotional and physical suffering, and lost wages, along with punitive damages. She does not specify a total amount in the lawsuit, but Cardi said from the stand that she is “suing me for $24 million.”
On Tuesday, before the verdict was reached, Ellis’s attorney asked the jury to side with the security guard and award her hundreds of thousands of dollars, while also calling Cardi’s use of profanity disrespectful.
“The defendant came here, used all of this foul language. This is a court of law, you cannot speak this way in court. I have never seen this before. It’s a disrespect to us and a disrespect to the judge, courthouse,” attorney Ron Rosen Janfaza said.
Cardi B’s attorney said the profanity was used to describe what happened that day in February of 2018. They also said there are inconsistencies in Ellis’ testimony about the scar on her cheek and asked the jury to “use common sense” and side with Cardi.
Things got heated outside of the courtroom on Tuesday as Cardi threw a pen at a man who asked a “disrespectful” question about her relationship.
Cardi was seen walking out of the Alhambra courthouse during the lunch break, signing albums for fans, when one person asked the following question.
Cardi B threw a pen at the man after he asked the question. “Do you see women asking those type of questions to me?… Act like you have some manners.”
“Cardi, insiders are claiming Offset is publicly bragging about getting you pregnant for the fourth time. Do you foresee any paternity issues with Steffon Diggs?” the man asked.
“Stop disrespecting me,” Cardi said as she tossed a pen handed to her for autographs at the man. ‘Don’t disrespect me.”
“I still love you even though you just threw some stuff at me,” the man shouted.
“I don’t care. You’re disrespectful. Don’t do that. Do you see women asking those type of questions to me?” Cardi replied. “Why do you feel, as a man, you get to ask me those type of questions? Act like you have some manners. Your momma taught you, respect women.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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