The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Tony Saxon, Ye’s former project manager on the property, and the law firm West Coast Trial Lawyers, “improperly” placed an “invalid” lien on the property “while simultaneously launching an aggressive publicity campaign designed to pressure Ye, chill future transactions and force payment for disputed claims already pending in court.”
Saxon’s attorneys were not immediately available for comment.
Saxon, who also worked as West’s security guard and caretaker at the Malibu compound, sued the controversial rapper in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2023, claiming a series of employment violations, failure to pay for services and disability discrimination.
In January 2024, Saxon placed the $1.8 million lien on the property to obtain compensation for his work as a project manager and construction-related services, court documents show.
A mechanic’s lien, also called a contractor’s lien, is usually filed by an unpaid contractor, laborer, or supplier to seize the property. If the party remains unpaid, it may trigger a foreclosure sale of the property to secure compensation.
Ye has denied Saxon’s allegations. In a November 2023 response to the complaint, Ye disputed that Saxon “suffered any injury, damage or loss as a result of any act, omission or breach by Defendant.”
According to Ye’s recent complaint, he put the property up for sale in December 2023. A month later, he claimed, Saxon and his lawyers recorded the lien and “immediately” issued statements to the media.
The lawsuit quotes a statement Saxon’s attorney, Ronald Zambrano, made to Business Insider: “If someone wants to buy Kanye’s Malibu home, he or she will have to deal with us first. That sale cannot happen without Tony getting paid first.”
“These statements were intended to create public pressure and hinder Plaintiffs’ ability to sell and finance the property by falsely conveying that Defendants had an assessed, enforceable right to block a transaction and divert sales proceeds,” the complaint said.
The filing states that the Los Angeles Supreme Court last year granted Ye’s request to release the bond lien and awarded him attorney fees.
The Malibu estate’s short existence has a long history of legal and financial drama.
In 2021, West purchased the concrete beachfront mansion designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando – for $57.3 million. He then gutted the property on Malibu Road and reportedly said, “This is going to be like this my shelter. This will be my Batcave.”
Three years later, the hip-hop star sold the unfinished mansion (he had the windows, doors, electricity and plumbing removed, and walls demolished), at a significant loss to developer Steven Belmont’s Belwood Investments for $21 million.
Belmont, who had spent more money to renovate the house, had spent three years in prison after being indicted attempted murder due to a pitchfork attack in Napa County. He promised to restore the architectural gem to its former glory.
However, the property is embroiled in various legal and financial entanglements, including threats of closure.
Last August, the infamous mansion was put back on the market with a Price reduction of $4.1 million after an earlier bid reportedly fell through, according to Realtor.com.
The legal battle surrounding Ye’s former Malibu platform is the latest in a series of public and legal dramas involving the music impresario in recent years.
In 2022, the erratic superstar lost numerous lucrative partnerships with companies like Adidas and the Gap after a series of anti-Semitic statements, including declaring himself a Nazi on X (which he later recanted).
Two years later, Ye abruptly closed Donda Academy, the troubled private school he founded in 2020.
The school and some of its affiliates faced multiple lawsuits from former employees and faculty, alleging they were victims of wrongful termination, a hostile work environment and other claims.
In court filings, Ye has dismissed all claims against him by former employees and teachers at Donda.
A number of these lawsuits have been settled.
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