![\"cardi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/f038e0f3-cardi-b-082625-2-600x338.jpg\"\/)
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Cardi B testifies in her civil assault trial Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Court TV)<\/p>\n
Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Alm\u00e1nzar, is accused of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and false imprisonment in a lawsuit that stems from a 2018 incident.<\/p>\n
MORE | Cardi B testifies in her civil assault trial<\/a><\/p>\n On February 24, 2018, Cardi B went to a private appointment with her obstetrician at a doctor\u2019s office in Beverly Hills. At the time, the rapper was approximately four months pregnant with her first child and was keeping the news of her pregnancy private and out of the tabloids.<\/p>\n In 2020, Emani Ellis, a security guard who was working in the building housing the doctor\u2019s office, filed a lawsuit claiming that Cardi B attacked her, unprovoked, during that visit. In her suit, Ellis claimed that Cardi B \u201cviolently, unlawfully, intentionally, suddenly and maliciously\u201d hit her head, face and body, leaving her with physical and emotional damages. Ellis also claims that Cardi B spat on her and used multiple profanities and racial slurs. Cardi B\u2019s security guard, identified as \u201cDoe 1\u201d in the lawsuit, is also accused of attacking Ellis.<\/p>\n Ellis\u2019 lawsuit additionally accuses Cardi B of working with unnamed people to have all recorded footage of the incident erased.<\/p>\n Plaintiff Emani Ellis testifies in the civil assault trial against Cardi B. (Court TV)<\/p>\n In a filing responding to the lawsuit, Cardi B claimed Ellis was on her personal phone and loudly announced she had just seen the rapper and appeared to be trying to record video of her. Cardi B said she asked Ellis not to say anything to anyone, but \u201crather than take steps to deescalate the situation, Plaintiff aggressively approached [Cardi B] and engaged her in a profanity-laced screaming match.\u201d<\/p>\n Cardi B\u2019s attorneys maintain there was no physical contact between the two women during the incident, which they estimate to have lasted between 60 and 90 seconds.<\/p>\n Ellis\u2019 suit seeks medical expenses, damages for loss of past and future earnings, punitive damages and a civil penalty of $25,000.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n DAILY TRIAL UPDATES DAY 2 \u2013 8\/26\/25<\/p>\n LIVESTREAM: Cardi B Assault Trial \u2013 Day 2 | Emani Ellis v. Belcalis Alm\u00e1nzar<\/a> WATCH: No Hands, Just Words: Cardi B Testifies, Fires Back at Assault Claims<\/a> MORE: Cardi B testifies in her civil assault trial<\/a> First examined Ellis in Nov. 2022, nearly 4 years after the incident. Leanne Shmidt (Ellis\u2019s Mother) testified that Ellis showed more anxiety, depression, and noticeable scar after the alleged incident.<\/p>\n Ellis called her immediately afterward, crying and upset, reporting scratches and spitting. Dianne Shmidt (Ellis\u2019s Grandmother) recalled that Ellis called her right after the incident, described being humiliated and crying. Believes Ellis\u2019s account based on seeing the scar herself. No documentation of visible scar in her notes; relied on patient self-reports. DAY 1 \u2013 8\/25\/25<\/p>\n LIVESTREAM: Cardi B Assault Trial \u2013 Day 1 | Emani Ellis v. Belcalis Alm\u00e1nzar<\/a> Plaintiff Emani Ellis\u2019 attorney, Ilan N. Rosen Janfaza, delivered his opening statement.<\/p>\n Argued that Ellis was hurt by Cardi B, experienced trauma, and deserves respect. Cardi B\u2019s defense attorney, Peter J. Anderson, delivered his opening statement.<\/p>\n Challenged emotional distress claims, argued plaintiff changed her story. Plaintiff Emani Ellis, a former security guard, was the first witness to take the stand.<\/p>\n Said she had actually been Cardi B prior to the incident, and even had tickets to one of her concerts, but did not attend after the encounter.![\"plaintiff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0c876266-screenshot-2025-08-26-at-12.36.35\u202fam-600x329.png\"\/)
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\nDAY 3 \u2013 8\/27\/25<\/p>\n
\nCardi B, on the stand, denied any physical contact with Emani Ellis; described the incident as strictly verbal.<\/p>\n
\nDescribed appearance: hoodie, wig, one-inch rounded acrylic nails (not sharp).
\nRecalled Ellis waiting outside the elevator and following Cardi, allegedly filming her on her phone.
\nCardi questioned Ellis about recording; said she felt her privacy was invaded.
\nClaimed heated words were exchanged but insisted neither party touched the other.
\nDenied spitting, racial slurs, or swinging at Ellis.
\nExplained she didn\u2019t want her security guard involved in medical matters; guard remained in the lobby.
\nSaid receptionist and doctor witnessed the argument and helped intervene.
\nWATCH: Cardi B Testifies \u2018I Didn\u2019t Touch Her\u2019 in Civil Assault Trial<\/a>
\nCardi repeatedly requested surveillance footage but none was available.
\nAsserted Ellis was acting aggressively and not as a typical security guard.
\nAdmitted feeling threatened momentarily but the situation quickly diffused.
\nMaintained nails were not sharp and she avoids styles that could cause injury.
\nCourt was marked by frequent objections over questioning and procedural issues.<\/p>\n
\nDr. Brent Moelleken (Plastic Surgeon) treated Emani Ellis for scars on her left cheek, allegedly from fingernail scratches.<\/p>\n
\nSaw three vertical, parallel marks; described them as highly suggestive of fingernail injury.
\nPerformed two procedures to reduce scarring and hypersensitivity, with some improvement.
\nNoted scarring still present; future microneedling might help further.
\nCharges for Ellis\u2019s treatments totaled $17,500 (paid on a lien basis depending on case outcome).
\nEmphasized that photographs may not fully show the scars; best assessed in-person.
\nConfirmed Ellis reported continuing pain and sensitivity in affected area.<\/p>\n
\nMom described Ellis as generally peaceful and compassionate.<\/p>\n
\nDr. Nichole McKenzie (Psychologist) saw Ellis for emotional distress after the incident; reported patient\u2019s claims of verbal insult from Cardi B.<\/p>\n
\nEllis reported headaches, anxiety, and psychological symptoms post-incident.
\nExplained that her role was not to verify claims, but to record patient statements and symptoms.<\/p>\n
\nAttorneys for the Plaintiff and Defense delivered their opening statements.<\/p>\n
\nMade a case for emotional distress damages, and suggested that emotional distress doctors should testify if relevant.<\/p>\n
\nAsserted no emotional distress attributable to incident.
\nPointed to plaintiff\u2019s alleged damaging admissions.
\nQuestioned authenticity and disclosure of records\/witnesses.
\nPresented Cardi B as loving, private, and unjustly accused.<\/p>\n
\nStated she was doing rounds on February 24, 2018, when she saw Cardi B exit an elevator.
\nSaid \u201cwow, it\u2019s Cardi B\u201d out loud due to excitement.
\nClaimed Cardi B turned around, allegedly said, \u201cwhy the fuck are you telling people you seen me?\u201d and accused Ellis of spreading news about her presence.
\nEllis said she tried to reassure Cardi B she wasn\u2019t telling anyone, but Cardi B allegedly persisted and put her finger in Ellis\u2019s face, used profanity and insults.
\nEllis described Cardi B\u2019s fingernails as 2\u20133 inches long that day.
\nSaid Cardi B cursed at her, used the n-word and other slurs, called her names, threatened her job, body-shamed her, and mocked her career.
\nAlleged Cardi B spat on her, took a swing at her, and scratched her left cheek with a fingernail.
\nSaid the incident was traumatizing, and Cardi B never apologized.
\nAt the time, did not intend to sue; did not immediately take photographs of her injury due to emotional distress.
\nSaid career path changed afterward: became a social worker, helping low-income families.
\nSaid she suffers from anxiety, depression, insomnia, and PTSD as a result of the incident.
\nSought psychological treatment post-incident.
\nEllis previously had no scar on her left cheek; after the incident, sought treatment\/advice from doctors, including plastic surgeons and psychologists.
\nOn cross, the defense challenged Ellis\u2019s recollection and consistency; questioned if Ellis used a phone to record Cardi B, which Ellis denied.
\nPointed out discrepancy: Ellis said scratch was on cheek, but referred to nose in incident reports and emails.
\nPressed Ellis about not using a band-aid, taking a nap after the incident, and lack of initial photographic evidence.
\nDefense brought up prior car accidents (2021, 2023), previous psychological treatment, and worker\u2019s comp filings.
\nAsked about the absence of immediate medical reports showing scratches or blows to head\/face (only appeared later in lawsuit context).
\nEllis saids she apologized to employer after being fired, but then got a better-paying job.
\nDefense attempted to impeach Ellis using emails and prior deposition testimony regarding sequence of events (spit vs. intervention, nose\/cheek confusion).
\nJurors asked about the presence of cameras (Ellis said there were none in elevator), and timing of injuries\/car accidents.
\nMORE | Ex-security guard testifies Cardi B cursed at her, spat on her, cut her<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Posted at 7:28 AM, August 27, 2025 and last updated 7:30 AM, August 27, 2025 LOS ANGELES (Court…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":100790,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[49,48,17466,361,75],"class_list":{"0":"post-100789","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-cardi-b","11":"tag-celebrities","12":"tag-entertainment"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100789\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}