Cardi B Secures Another Legal Win In Failed Assault Case From Security Guard

BY Gabriel Bras Nevares
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Cardi B Legal Win Failed Assault Case Security Guard
Nov 8, 2024; New York, New York, USA; American rapper Cardi B (center) talks to rapper A Boogie Wit da Hoodie (left) during the third quarter between the New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Cardi B emerged victorious in an assault case from security guard Emani Ellis, who accused Cardi of assaulting her in 2018.

Cardi B's boo Stefon Diggs might win big at the Super Bowl this year. And she has a victory of her own that could provide some good luck. According to Rolling Stone, a lawyer in Cardi's victorious assault case from a security guard will face consequences after asking her about her alleged gang affiliations during the August trial.

Per the outlet, plaintiff Emani Ellis' lawyer Ron A. Rosen Janfaza received a $1,500 fine on Wednesday (January 28) from Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman. Janfaza had asked the Bronx superstar about possible gang ties while she was on the witness stand. This violated a court order that banned questions about Cardi's past stripping days and alleged gang relations in her youth.

"Do you have any affiliation at this time with a gang?" he asked, leading to objections from her team and an admonishment from the judge "about the clear violation of the court’s ruling." Cardi B's lawyers asked the court to hold Janfaza in contempt and for referencing evidence in his closing arguments that saw no introduction in the trial.

Why Was Cardi B Accused Of Assault?

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Jan 25, 2026; Denver, CO, USA. Musician Cardi B after the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

He responded to these claims by alleging that he was sleep-deprived, that the question was from his office manager's draft, and that his "at this time" phrasing got him around the court order.

"The court is not persuaded by any of these arguments," Judge Fusselman wrote in his ruling. "It is clear that Mr. Janfaza was aware of the [prior] ruling and. The question was specifically drafted in an attempt to avoid directly violating the letter, but not the clear intent, of the court’s ruling. It was no accident, it was not the result of inexperience or stress, it was not the fault of Mr. Janfaza’s office manager. It was a knowing and intentional violation of the court’s ruling."

Cardi B won this civil assault case, as the court sided with her concerning security guard Emani Ellis' claims. Ellis accused her of assaulting her at a gynecologist's office in 2018. The judge in this case also shot down the security guard's request for a new trial. We will see if any other consequences emerge.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.

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