The long-running legal battle between Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B and a former medical security guard has reached a definitiveand costly conclusion. In a ruling finalized on Thursday, March 26, 2026, and confirmed in early April, Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman ordered Emani Ellis to reimburse the “Bodak Yellow” artist for costs incurred during the trial.
The decision follows a unanimous jury verdict from January 2026, which rejected Ellis’s claims that Cardi B (born Belcalis Almánzar) had physically assaulted her during a 2018 confrontation at a Beverly Hills medical office.
The Cardi B legal fees security guard lawsuit took a sharp turn when the court dismissed Ellis’s attempts to block the payment. Ellis’s legal team had previously labeled the request for reimbursement a “sham,” arguing that the rapper had missed filing deadlines. However, the judge found these arguments to be “legally untethered” and “meritless.”
Cardi B has been awarded a total of $19,690.26 to cover:
• Deposition fees and court reporting
• Filing and motion fees
• Jury fees
• Photocopies and service of process costs
Judge Fusselman ruled that these costs were both “reasonable and necessary” for the rapper’s defense against the $24 million lawsuit.
The original 2018 dispute began while a then-pregnant Cardi B was visiting her obstetrician. The rapper testified that the encounter was purely verbal, sparked by her belief that Ellis was filming her without consent.
Ellis, however, alleged that Cardi B used racial slurs, spat on her, and scratched her face with a long fingernail, reportedly calling her “big” during the heated exchange. After only one hour of deliberation in January, the jury found no evidence of physical contact, siding entirely with Cardi B’s version of events.
This victory is the latest in an “undisputed court run” for the rapper in 2026. Beyond the Cardi B legal fees security guard lawsuit, her team recently celebrated the dismissal of a $50 million copyright battle over her song “Enough (Miami).”
Additionally, Cardi remains aggressive in her multi-million dollar collection battle against blogger Tasha K. As of April 2026, Tasha K has been placed on a court-approved payment plan to settle the $4 million defamation judgment from 2022, with installments set at $20,000 per month. For Cardi B, the message to potential litigants remains clear: “Don’t you ever think that you gonna sue me and I’m just gonna settle.”
