Cardi B has secured another legal victory, this time winning the right to recover nearly $20,000 in trial costs from a security guard who unsuccessfully sued the rapper for assault. The ruling, issued Thursday by a Los Angeles County judge, marks the latest chapter in a case that drew significant attention, fueled by viral moments from the courtroom and Cardi B’s assertive testimony. The financial recovery represents reimbursement for expenses incurred during the civil trial, including deposition costs, court reporter fees, and photocopying.
The dispute originated from a February 2018 encounter outside a Beverly Hills medical office, where Cardi B, then pregnant, believed Emani Ellis was illegally filming her. Ellis subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging assault, claiming Cardi B scratched her face during the confrontation. Cardi B, whose legal name is Belcalis Almánzar, vehemently denied the allegations, asserting there was no physical contact, only a verbal exchange. The jury ultimately sided with the rapper after just one hour of deliberation.
Judge Rejects Claims of Bad Faith, Orders Reimbursement
Ellis’s legal team attempted to block the reimbursement of trial costs, arguing that Cardi B’s lawyers had waited too long to seek them and that the submitted bill was inflated. They claimed Almánzar “proceeded in bad faith and should not be rewarded.” However, Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman rejected these arguments, finding the costs both timely and “necessary” to the defense presented by Cardi B’s legal team. The judge’s tentative ruling, issued ahead of Thursday’s hearing, was adopted by the court.
During a video hearing, Ron A. Rosen Janfaza, Ellis’s attorney, indicated his client did not wish to contest the costs further, stating, “My client doesn’t wish me to submit, but we’re going to just let it be.” The court subsequently ordered Ellis to pay $19,690 to cover the expenses. This decision underscores the court’s view that the legal fees were legitimately incurred in defending against the assault claim.
A Pattern of Legal Successes for Cardi B
This ruling is part of a broader pattern of legal successes for Cardi B. Following the unanimous jury verdict in her favor, Judge Fusselman previously denied Ellis’s request for a new trial in December. In January, he also imposed a $1,500 fine on Janfaza for questioning Cardi B about alleged “gang affiliation” during her testimony, a line of inquiry the judge deemed inappropriate and a violation of a pretrial order barring references to irrelevant and potentially prejudicial information.
ICYMI: Cardi B’s civil trial testimony produced some viral one-liners
I was in the CA courtroom, can confirm multiple jurors smiled or laughed at these:
“They’re wigs” & “We’re having … a debate”
Cardi denies assaulting security guard
Closing arguments today pic.twitter.com/6X1pz1WMYI
— Nancy Dillon (@Nancy__Dillon) September 2, 2025
Judge Fusselman explained in his January ruling that Janfaza’s question violated a pretrial order designed to prevent the introduction of irrelevant and potentially damaging information. The judge specifically ruled that inquiries regarding alleged altercations with third parties and purported gang affiliations were inadmissible, as they were not pertinent to Ellis’s claim of assault. Janfaza attempted to explain the question as a result of sleep deprivation, but the judge deemed it a “knowing and intentional” violation, requiring him to report the sanction to the State Bar.
The Trial Testimony and Key Evidence
During the trial, Cardi B testified that the encounter with Ellis was solely verbal, stemming from her concern that the security guard was recording her without permission whereas she was visiting her obstetrician. Two defense witnesses, including a doctor and a receptionist at the medical office, corroborated Cardi B’s account, stating that Ellis appeared to be the instigator of the confrontation. According to Rolling Stone, the jury appeared to respond favorably to Cardi B’s testimony, with several jurors smiling or laughing at her candid remarks.
Beyond This Case: A History of Legal Wins
This latest victory adds to a growing list of successful legal outcomes for Cardi B. In 2022, she won a $4 million jury verdict in a defamation lawsuit against celebrity gossip vlogger Latasha Kebe, known as Tasha K. A New York judge also dismissed a libel lawsuit against Cardi B and her sister, Hennessy. She prevailed in a federal trial in California concerning the use of a man’s back tattoo on the cover of her early mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1. The court found in her favor, rejecting claims of copyright infringement.
Following the conclusion of the security guard trial, Cardi B even released “Courtroom Edition” CD covers for her album, Am I the Drama?, playfully incorporating moments and hairstyles from the proceedings, demonstrating her characteristic engagement with public perception.
The next step in this case is the payment of the $19,690 in trial costs by Emani Ellis to Cardi B. This ruling reinforces the importance of adhering to legal procedures and the potential consequences of pursuing unsubstantiated claims.
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