Kanye West is facing a significant financial blow as a former employee seeks a staggering $1.2 million in attorney’s fees following a civil case victory earlier this year. This latest development comes on the heels of a jury ruling that found the rapper liable for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance, resulting in a $140,000 damages award.
In newly surfaced court documents, Anthony Saxon Netelkos, the ex-employee in question, claims that his legal team has accrued over 740 hours in attorney work throughout a grueling three-year legal battle. His attorneys are pushing for a 1.75 multiplier on the total fees due to what they describe as the intricate and high-stakes nature of the case.
The jury’s decision in March confirmed that Kanye’s actions violated California’s Labor Code, leading to the financial judgment against him. Saxon’s legal team argues that the lengthy litigation, which spanned 35 months and involved five different defense attorneys, required extensive discovery and multiple depositions, culminating in a two-week jury trial. They assert that their firm incurred over $300,000 in costs upfront, emphasizing that their work was done on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if they win.
Moreover, the filing criticizes Kanye’s legal strategies, alleging that his team made a $100,000 settlement proposal right before the trial began, only to later demand $200,000 and a public apology once proceedings were underway. Saxon’s attorneys firmly rejected these offers and chose to proceed to trial, where they ultimately emerged victorious.
Adding to the complexity, they claim that Kanye’s camp filed a separate lawsuit against them prior to the trial, allegedly using it as leverage during settlement discussions. Now, the decision rests with the judge, who will determine if Kanye’s $140,000 trial loss will escalate into a legal bill exceeding seven figures.
As this legal saga unfolds, many are left wondering how it will impact Kanye’s future endeavors.
