In a significant legal victory, rapper Lil Wayne has emerged triumphant in his long-standing dispute with his former lawyer, Ron Sweeney. The case, which has spanned several years and multiple courtrooms, centered around claims of exorbitant legal fees and the enforceability of a verbal agreement regarding Sweeney’s contingency fees.
According to reports from Digital Music News, a New York judge ruled in Wayne’s favor, stating that he does not owe Sweeney the 10 percent of his profits that the attorney claimed as part of their agreement. Lil Wayne initially filed a lawsuit against Sweeney in 2019, arguing that the contingency fee was “double the customary rate for attorneys in the music industry” and that their agreement lacked a signature, rendering it unenforceable after he fired Sweeney in 2018.
In response, Sweeney filed counterclaims in both California and New York, asserting that Wayne owed him $20 million from deals made after their professional relationship ended, which included settlements related to Cash Money Records and the alleged sale of Young Money master recordings.
On October 14, Judge James D’Auguste ruled that Sweeney was not entitled to any contingency fees related to Wayne’s earnings after their separation. The court documents stated, “Counterclaim plaintiffs may not, under [the law], receive a contingency fee… Accordingly, they are not entitled to discovery regarding the monies received by [Wayne] in connection with the master recordings sale and Cash Money/Universal settlements.”
While the ruling allows Sweeney to seek “reasonable fees” from Wayne based on evidence discovery, Wayne’s legal team argues that he had already overpaid Sweeney throughout their 13-year working relationship, making any further claims moot.
Lil Wayne’s attorney, Jonathan Davis, remarked on the resolution of the case, expressing relief that the rule of law has been upheld in this lengthy legal battle. “After an almost seven-year battle in multiple courts in New York and California, lawyers can rest a little easier knowing that the rule of law still matters,” he stated.
As Lil Wayne continues to focus on his music career, fans and observers await his public response to this significant legal victory. The resolution of this case marks the end of a protracted dispute that has occupied much of Wayne’s time and energy over the past several years.
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