Cardi B Wins Legal Battle Against Security Guard’s Request for New Trial

Cardi B Maintains Legal Victory as Court Denies Security Guard’s Request for New Trial

Cardi B secured another legal win after a Los Angeles judge rejected a security guard’s bid for a new trial over a 2018 incident outside a Beverly Hills doctor’s office. The motion, filed by plaintiff Emani Ellis, sought to overturn a unanimous jury verdict favoring the Grammy-winning rapper.

Judge Ian Fusselman found no merit in claims that two eyewitnesses were improperly introduced or that the jury was intimidated following an incident where Cardi B threw a pen outside the courthouse. Video footage showed the rapper, whose real name is Belcalis Almánzar, tossing a pen in response to aggressive questioning by a YouTube vlogger. The judge noted that any suggestion of juror intimidation was unsupported hearsay and even stated that the plaintiff’s counsel wanted the jury informed about the incident.

According to the court, jurors carefully evaluated the evidence during the civil trial and returned their verdict after only one hour of deliberation on September 2. The jury determined Ellis failed to prove that Cardi B physically assaulted her during an altercation arising from Ellis allegedly filming Almánzar outside the obstetrician’s office, where Cardi B was secretly pregnant. Almánzar consistently denied touching Ellis and described the encounter as merely verbal.

The defense called two key witnesses: Dr. David Finke and receptionist Tierra Malcolm. Both testified that Ellis appeared aggressive and had a phone in hand during the incident. Although the defense identified these witnesses late in the process, the judge ruled this did not prejudice the plaintiff, who added witnesses herself late in the case.

Ellis’ attorney faced sharp criticism from the judge for repeatedly referencing a barred psychologist witness and questionable conduct that might result in sanctions. Meanwhile, Cardi B’s legal team underscored that the plaintiff attempted to involve Malcolm in a scheme to sue Almánzar shortly after the event.

Earlier, Cardi B commemorated her trial victory with special “Courtroom Edition” album covers for her sophomore release, Am I the Drama?. This case added to a series of legal wins for Almánzar, including multi-million dollar jury awards and dismissed libel claims. The latest decision reinforces Cardi B’s successful defense strategy and highlights the court’s confidence in the jury’s impartiality and judgment.