, , , , , ,

Cardi B’s $4M Defamation Verdict Against Tasha K Upheld By Appeals Court

A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld Cardi B’s $4 million defamation verdict against a gossip blogger who made salacious claims on YouTube about drug use, STDs and prostitution.

In a five-page decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected an appeal from Tasha K, who had claimed that the massive verdict against her was the result of “very lopsided presentation of evidence to the jury.”

The appeals court ruled that Tasha K (real name Latasha Kebe) had failed to properly make that argument to the trial judge, meaning she forfeited the right to do so before an appeals court.

Related

“Defendant Latasha Kebe asks for a new trial, saying that there was insufficient evidence for the jury verdict against her,” the appeals court wrote. “But as she all but admits, she didn’t make either of the required post-verdict motions in the district court.”

Tasha’s attorneys had also argued that the judge overseeing the trial withheld key evidence that might have helped her beat Cardi’s accusations, but the Eleventh Circuit rejected that argument, too.

“She never tells us where in the 5500-page record the district court’s alleged errors can be found,” the appeals court wrote. “Because Kebe’s brief falls well short of what we require, she has abandoned this argument.”

In a statement to Billboard, Cardi’s attorneys Lisa Moore and Andrew Pequignot praised the court’s ruling: “We’re obviously pleased that the Eleventh Circuit has affirmed the jury’s unanimous and important verdict, which we believe was more than amply supported by the evidence presented in the case.”

Tasha’s attorney did not return a request for comment.

Cardi B (real name Belcalis Almánzar) sued Tasha in 2019, over what the rapper’s lawyers called a “malicious campaign” on social media and YouTube aimed at hurting Cardi’s reputation. The star’s attorneys said they had repeatedly tried – and failed – to get her to pull her videos down.

Related

One Tasha video cited in the lawsuit includes a statement that Cardi had done sex acts “with beer bottles on f—ing stripper stages.” Others videos said the superstar had contracted herpes; that she had been a prostitute; that she had cheated on her husband; and that she had done hard drugs.

Following a trial in January, jurors sided decisively with Cardi B, holding Tasha liable for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. They awarded more than $2.5 million in damages and another $1.3 million in legal fees incurred by the rapper. Judge William Ray later issued an injunction forcing her to pull the videos from the internet.

Tasha appealed that verdict last summer, arguing in her opening appellate brief that Judge Ray withheld key details from jurors and the verdict was the result of a “very lopsided” trial. She’s vowed to keep fighting the case “all the way to the Supreme Court if need be,” even if it “takes years” to do so.

Following Tuesday’s decision, a trip to the Supreme Court would be the procedural next step, but it’s unclear if Tasha will actually do so. The high court hears only a tiny fraction of the cases it is sent, and Tasha’s appeal does not likely present the kind of close questions that the justices typically want to tackle.

Related

The status of the $4 million damages award is also unclear. In September, Cardi’s attorneys warned Judge Ray that Tasha might use the delay caused by her appeals to avoid paying.

“This is more than a hypothetical concern in this case,” Cardi’s lawyers wrote at the time. “During the litigation, Kebe bragged publicly that she had taken steps to insulate herself from a judgment. And there have been recent online reports that Kebe has moved from Georgia to avoid enforcement of the judgment.”

A month later, Judge Ray ruled that Tasha would need to either immediately pay Cardi B, or secure a bond covering the entire amount while she appeals. It’s unclear if she ever did either.

https://www.billboard.com/pro/cardi-b-defamation-verdict-tasha-k-upheld-appeals-court/


July 2024
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  

About Us

Welcome to encircle News! We are a cutting-edge technology news company that is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in everything tech. From automobiles to drones, software to hardware, we’ve got you covered.

At encircle News, we believe that technology is more than just a tool, it’s a way of life. And we’re here to help you stay on top of all the latest trends and developments in this ever-evolving field. We know that technology is constantly changing, and that can be overwhelming, but we’re here to make it easy for you to keep up.

We’re a team of tech enthusiasts who are passionate about everything tech and love to share our knowledge with others. We believe that technology should be accessible to everyone, and we’re here to make sure it is. Our mission is to provide you with fun, engaging, and informative content that helps you to understand and embrace the latest technologies.

From the newest cars on the road to the latest drones taking to the skies, we’ve got you covered. We also dive deep into the world of software and hardware, bringing you the latest updates on everything from operating systems to processors.

So whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a business professional, or just someone who wants to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in technology, encircle News is the place for you. Join us on this exciting journey and be a part of shaping the future.

Podcasts

TWiT 986: Our Dope GPS! – Supreme Court Decisions, Snapdragon X Elite Tests This Week in Tech (Audio)

Supreme Court Decisions, Snapdragon X Elite Tests Murthy Decision Should Not Foreclose Cases Against Actual First Amendment Violations What SCOTUS just did to broadband, the right to repair, the environment, and more Nearly 4,000 arrested in global police crackdown on online scam networks Mark Cuban's public email was hacked after receiving call from a fake Google rep The Julian Assange Saga Is Finally Over Microsoft's bundling of Office and Teams breaks antitrust law, EU says EU Competition Commissioner says Apple's decision to pull AI from EU shows anticompetitive behavior Microsoft says it's okay to steal content published on the web Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC is finally the best clamshell laptop on the market after 8 years of iterations Tested: Don't buy a Snapdragon X Elite laptop for PC gaming Signal 65 Snapdragon battery testing The RIAA's lawsuit against generative music startups will be the bloodbath AI needs Wherein The Copia Institute Asks The Second Circuit To Stand Up For Fair Use, The Internet Archive, And Why We Bother To Have Copyright Law At All Redbox's owner files for bankruptcy after repeatedly missing payments and payroll Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Cathy Gellis, Ryan Shrout, and Doc Rock Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: lookout.com 1password.com/twit
  1. TWiT 986: Our Dope GPS! – Supreme Court Decisions, Snapdragon X Elite Tests
  2. TWiT 985: TikTok With Wings – AT&T Landlines, US Bans Kaspersky and DJI
  3. TWiT 984: Fifty-three Clicks – Bot Farms in Ukraine, LA Public Health Dept. Phished
  4. TWiT 983: Digital Snackwells – NVIDIA's Thor, Adobe's TOS, Insta's Unskippable Ads
  5. TWiT 982: International Trash – Startup Chaos, Breaking Ticketmaster, Ultrasonic Coffee