LOS ANGELES — Attorneys for the artist formerly known as Kanye West have filed an aggressive post-trial motion seeking to vacate a jury’s decision that held the rapper liable for over $100,000 in damages related to his hollowed-out Malibu estate.
In a March 13 filing submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court, West, 48, requested that a judge either grant a new trial or reverse the jury’s previous award to former employee Tony Saxon. The motion argues that the verdict lacks a basis in California law, specifically targeting the $140,000 awarded for alleged workplace injuries.
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The Core Dispute: Evidence vs. Allegations
The legal battle stems from a two-week trial in which Saxon, a former project manager and caretaker for West’s $57 million property, alleged wrongful termination, unpaid wages, and physical injury. While Saxon originally sought $1.7 million in compensatory damages, the jury returned a significantly lower verdict of $140,000, explicitly denying any additional punitive damages.
The award was based entirely on Saxon’s claims of back and neck injuries sustained while working on the Brutalist-style residence. However, West’s legal team contends that the jury’s decision on economic loss was reached without the necessary evidentiary foundation.
“This case went to the jury without a single admissible medical bill, without any medical records establishing injury, and without expert testimony grounded in any reliable causation or valuation methodology,” the motion states.
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Legal Challenges to the Award
West’s defense highlights two primary legal hurdles they believe should nullify the payout:
- Lack of Medical Substantiation: The motion argues that the $100,000 portion of the award designated for “economic loss” (split between past and future) cannot stand without documented medical expenses or expert testimony—requirements under California law for such damages.
- Licensing Restrictions: West’s attorneys argue that if the award was intended as compensation for construction labor, Saxon is legally barred from collecting it. Under California’s strict contractor licensing statutes, unlicensed individuals cannot sue for compensation for work that requires a license.
“At a minimum, the Court should order a new trial limited to damages,” the filing concludes.
Plaintiff’s Response
Ronald Zambrano, counsel for Tony Saxon, dismissed the motion as a redundant legal maneuver. In a statement, Zambrano characterized the filing as an “attempt to relitigate an issue that was already denied by the Court prior to trial.”
“We have a strong confidence the judge will make the same decisions and leave the jury’s verdict as is,” Zambrano added.
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Background of the Malibu Project
The litigation offers a glimpse into the chaotic renovation of West’s Tadao Ando-designed mansion, which the rapper reportedly attempted to turn into a “bomb shelter” by removing all windows, electricity, and plumbing.
Saxon’s initial 2023 complaint alleged he was hired in September 2021 as a $20,000-per-week project manager and live-in caretaker. He claimed he was forced to sleep in “makeshift conditions” on the floor and received only one of his promised weekly payments before being terminated for refusing to remove the home’s electrical system—a move he deemed a fire hazard.
The court is expected to rule on West’s motion for a new trial in the coming weeks.
