Overview
- On Dec. 5, Los Angeles County Judge Ian Fusselman rejected Emani Ellis’s motion for a new trial, leaving Cardi B’s jury win in place.
- The judge found no evidence that jurors were swayed by an outside incident in which Cardi B tossed a pen, calling intimidation claims speculative and hearsay.
- Judge Fusselman read YouTuber Donat Ricketts’ sworn statement saying the pen bounced and hit him, while defense filings argued it struck no one and had no bearing on deliberations.
- Challenges over allegedly late‑disclosed defense witnesses were denied as the court noted both sides added names, and defense filings said the plaintiff already knew the doctor and receptionist.
- The court said it will sanction plaintiff’s lawyer Ron Rosen Janfaza by ordering payment of defense attorneys’ fees to Lisa F. Moore, Peter Anderson, and Eric Lamm, as the Sept. 2 jury had unanimously found Ellis failed to prove assault after about an hour of deliberations.