LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles jury found Cardi B not liable in a civil assault trial brought by a security guard. The rapper will not have to pay any monetary compensation to the security guard.
Attorneys for Cardi B and the security guard presented their closing arguments on Tuesday, and the jury came to a quick verdict in the civil trial, deliberating for less than an hour.
“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,” Cardi B said outside of the courtroom after the verdict was read.
Cardi thanked her lawyers, the jury and the judge in the case. She also warned that she will countersue the next time someone brings a “frivolous lawsuit” against her.
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,” she said. “So don’t ever think that I’m just going to give you my money that I work hard for.”
The Grammy award-winning rapper, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, was sued by Emani Ellis, a security guard who claims the rapper hit her, scratched her face and spat on her at a Beverly Hills medical office 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 — and that Ellis was recording her.
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 of that day 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.
The trial is expected to go to the jury soon. On Tuesday, attorneys were presenting their closing arguments.
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, 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.
Source : ABC News
