Kanye West Ordered To Pay Contractor $140K After Malibu Mansion Trial

BY Caroline Fisher
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Kanye West Malibu Mansion Trial
Jul 26, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Recording artist Kanye West performs during the closing ceremony for the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Ceremonies Venue. Jeff Swinger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Contractor Tony Saxon accuses Kanye West of subjecting him to unsafe working conditions and not properly compensating him for his work.

Kanye West's legal battle with Tony Saxon has finally come to an end. Unfortunately for him, however, the jury did not rule in his favor. KABC reports that earlier this week, he was ordered to pay Saxon $140K for lost wages and medical expenses. He must also pay Saxon's attorney fees, which are over $1 million.

Allegedly, Ye agreed to pay him $20K per week for working on his Malibu mansion in 2021. Instead, Saxon allegedly ended up getting just one $20K payment plus $100K in construction costs.

Saxon's legal team has issued a statement in response to the jury's decision. “Today’s mixed verdict is a vindication for our client, Tony Saxon," Ronald Zambrano, employment chair of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said. "Ye’s lawyers called him a liar, a fraud, and a malingerer in court."

Syndication: Knoxville
Kanye West enters the annual Strength to Stand Youth Conference at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. Kanye West and his 100-member Sunday Service Choir performed along with West's pastor, Adam Tyson. Calvin Mattheis / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"His medical records, bank records, and personal family history were dissected, mocked, and vilified," he also added. "Yeezy representative Milo Yiannopoulos maligned him and our firm in the press. Ye’s team demanded that Tony pay them to resolve the case and issue a public apology. Most people would have folded.

"In true David-vs.-Goliath fashion, Mr. Saxon stood firm against one of the biggest celebrities in the world, with the truth on his side," Zambrano concluded.

“Though the jury’s award was less than we asked for, the California Labor Code allows us to recover our attorney’s fees and costs. When it’s all said and done, the judgment against Ye should be more than $1 million,” president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, Neama Rahmani, explained. “We will not be bullied by Ye, his team, or anyone else. We thank the jury for their time and their verdict, and we look forward to continuing to represent employees who have been treated unfairly and who refuse to be intimidated or silenced.”

About The Author
Caroline Fisher is currently a News Editor at HotNewHipHop. Her time at HotNewHipHop began in 2023 when she began writing about music and pop culture full-time. Since then, she has helped cover major stories including the YSL RICO trial, Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s explosive feud, Diddy’s ongoing legal battle, and awards shows such as the BET Awards. Being from Chicago, she also got the opportunity to attend Summer Smash 2024 and review Chief Keef’s historic homecoming show. She additionally covered sets by Flo Milli, Playboi Carti, Bktherula, and more.

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