Emani Ellis v. Cardi B Lawsuit, Jury Clears Rapper of All Assault Claims After Seven-Year Legal Fight

Why it’s trending: In January 2026, a Los Angeles judge ordered Ellis’s trial lawyer, Ron Rosen Janfaza, to pay a $1,500 fine and self-report to the state bar association for violating a direct court order by asking Cardi B about gang affiliations on the witness stand. The sanction brought renewed attention to one of 2025’s most viral celebrity trials — and to Cardi’s repeated vow to countersue anyone who brings what she calls a “frivolous” lawsuit against her.

A California jury unanimously found Cardi B not liable on all claims after less than one hour of deliberations on September 2, 2025. The lawsuit stemmed from a February 24, 2018 encounter at a Beverly Hills gynecologist’s office, when Cardi B — then four months pregnant — had an altercation with security guard Emani Ellis. The case was filed in 2020 and took more than seven years from incident to final verdict.

Quick Case Snapshot

What the Lawsuit Alleged

On February 24, 2018, Cardi B arrived at a Beverly Hills doctor’s office for an obstetrics appointment while four months pregnant. Emani Ellis, then a 24-year-old security guard working at the building, had an encounter with Cardi B that escalated rapidly. Ellis alleged that Cardi B, who was seeking privacy for her undisclosed pregnancy, thought Ellis intended to record or reveal her presence, and the interaction sparked an argument between the two.

Ellis claimed the incident left her with a scratch on her left cheek from Cardi’s acrylic fingernail, and that Cardi also spat on her. Ellis, who lost her job over the incident, sought damages including medical expenses, compensation for emotional and physical suffering, and lost wages, along with punitive damages.

Ellis said she did not initially plan to sue but changed her mind after reflecting on the toll the incident took on her well-being and livelihood. She filed the civil lawsuit in 2020, and the case did not reach trial until August 2025 — more than seven years after the incident.

What Cardi B Said Happened

Cardi B testified that she didn’t touch Ellis at any point. She said she heard Ellis say her name into a phone and appeared to be filming her. Cardi feared Ellis would reveal that she was pregnant.

Cardi acknowledged the argument grew very heated and that the two were chest-to-chest at one point, but maintained the fight never became physical. “She didn’t touch me,” Cardi said. “She was going to touch me, but she didn’t get to touch me.”

A significant portion of testimony centered on Cardi’s acrylic nails with rhinestones. “It wasn’t a shape that was harming, it was coffin-shaped,” she said. “They weren’t sharp.” Her testimony on the stand went viral, particularly the moment she was asked if she had been angry: “Yes, I was angry! Because I’m pregnant! And this girl’s about to beat my a**!”

Key Witnesses

Two eyewitnesses from the doctor’s office proved central to the verdict. Cardi’s defense attorney Peter Anderson argued that Ellis did not go to the emergency room or see a doctor immediately after the incident, and never filed a police report. “She claims that Cardi mauled her, basically, cut her face, and what did she do? She went home and took a nap. That was her own testimony,” Anderson said.

Almánzar’s lawyers wrote that Ellis “tried to enlist” the doctor’s receptionist in “plaintiff’s scheme to sue defendant.” Receptionist Tierra Malcolm testified that she ran to the hallway when she heard the women yelling, and that Ellis had a phone in her hand and appeared to be the aggressor. The doctor, Dr. David Finke, corroborated that account from the stand.

Defendant’s Response

Cardi B spoke publicly and at length after the verdict. “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.

She warned she would countersue in the future: “The next person who tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to counter-sue, and I’m gonna make you pay because this is not OK. I am not that celeb that you sue, and you think it’s going to settle. I’m not gonna settle.”

Ellis told reporters she remains firm on her version of events. “I don’t think [the verdict] reflects the truth,” Ellis said. “We know that the justice system is sometimes flawed, and unfortunately that was the case for me. I still stand firm on my position.” Her attorney announced plans to appeal.

Legal Context

This case illustrates the high burden plaintiffs carry in civil assault and battery claims against public figures who contest the allegations. To prevail on a battery claim, a plaintiff must prove the defendant intentionally made harmful or offensive physical contact. When the defendant denies any contact occurred and multiple independent eyewitnesses support that denial, civil juries — which decide by a preponderance of the evidence standard — can reach a verdict quickly, as this one did in under an hour.

Cardi B’s civil court victory was not her first. She previously scored a $4 million jury verdict against celebrity gossip vlogger Latasha Kebe, professionally known as Tasha K. A New York judge also sided with her and dismissed a libel lawsuit. She further won at a California federal trial where she was accused of using a portion of a man’s back tattoo on the cover of an early mixtape.

Verdict & Post-Trial Rulings

September 2, 2025 — Unanimous Verdict Jurors unanimously determined that Ellis did not prove assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress, or negligence claims against Cardi B.

December 5, 2025 — New Trial Denied Los Angeles County Judge Ian Fusselman denied Ellis’s request for a new trial, finding no basis to overturn the unanimous verdict. He rejected Ellis’s claim that jurors were intimidated by Cardi after she threw a pen outside the courthouse shortly before the verdict.

January 28, 2026 — Attorney Sanctioned Judge Fusselman ordered Ellis’s attorney, Ron Rosen Janfaza, to pay a $1,500 fine and self-report to the bar association after ruling he made a “knowing and intentional violation” of a clear court order by asking Cardi B about gang affiliations on the witness stand — a line of questioning the judge had explicitly banned before trial.

Important Case Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Emani Ellis allege against Cardi B? 

Ellis alleged that Cardi B scratched her left cheek with an acrylic fingernail and spat on her during a 2018 confrontation outside a Beverly Hills gynecologist’s office. She sued for assault, battery, emotional distress, and negligence, seeking approximately $24 million in damages.

What did the jury decide?

 The jury unanimously found Cardi B not liable on all four claims after deliberating for less than one hour on September 2, 2025. Cardi B did not owe Ellis any monetary damages.

Why is this case trending again in 2026?

 In January 2026, Judge Fusselman fined Ellis’s attorney $1,500 and ordered him to self-report to the California bar association for asking Cardi B a forbidden question about gang affiliations on the witness stand — a ruling that kept the case in the news months after the verdict.

Can Ellis still appeal the verdict?

 Ellis’s attorney announced plans to appeal immediately after the verdict. As of March 2026, the appeal has not been publicly confirmed in court records. The denial of the new trial motion on December 5, 2025 was a significant setback for any appeal effort.

What does “not liable” mean in a civil case?

 “Not liable” in a civil case means the jury found that the plaintiff did not prove her claims by a preponderance of the evidence — the civil standard meaning “more likely than not.” It is not the same as a criminal “not guilty” verdict, but the legal effect is the same: no damages are owed.

What was the “pen incident” that nearly caused a new trial? 

Shortly before the verdict, Cardi B threw a pen to the ground after a YouTuber shouted questions at her about her rumored pregnancy outside the courthouse. Ellis’s legal team argued this intimidated jurors, but Judge Fusselman rejected the claim, finding no credible evidence that jurors were affected.

Related Reading on AllAboutLawyer.com: For another high-profile celebrity defamation and assault case that also involved competing witness accounts, see our coverage of the Marciano Brunette v. Demi Engemann defamation lawsuit — a reality TV star’s case that is currently at the anti-SLAPP motion stage. You can also review how courts evaluate celebrity defamation claims more broadly in our breakdown of the Asmongold defamation lawsuit involving amplified sexual assault allegations.

Last Updated: March 14, 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Allegations in a complaint are not findings of fact. All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven otherwise in court.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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