Rather than settle, the rapper is fighting claims that he owes a former project manager more than $1 million over work on his oceanfront home

A civil jury trial between Ye, the rapper and fashion designer formerly known as Kanye West, and a former worker who helped oversee the demolition of Ye’s Malibu beachfront home is fully underway in Los Angeles Superior Court, with jurors hearing different versions of what unfolded at the Malibu property.

Jury selection was completed early Tuesday before opening statements began. The case is being tried before Judge Brock Hammond and is expected to last a little more than two weeks. The plaintiff Tony Saxon’s lawyer, Neama Rahmani of West Coast Trial Lawyers, tells Los Angeles, “Ye didn’t remember anything during his deposition and he didn’t bother to show up for jury selection or opening statements.  But that didn’t stop the defense from calling our client a liar.  We’re proud to stand up for the little guy against a billionaire celebrity who thinks the rules don’t apply to him.”

The jury has been seated and opening statements began today in the civil trial of Saxon v. Ye. Tony Saxon, a former employee of Kanye West, alleges that West owes him more than $1 million in unpaid wages and damages. Saxon’s lawyer, Neama Rahmani tells me👀

“Ye didn’t remember… https://t.co/IV2gcLVWtX

— Lauren Conlin (@conlin_lauren) February 25, 2026

A statement released on behalf of Ye or “Yeezy,” on Day 1 of Jury Selection read, “ Most of the time, most celebrities settle incoming lawsuits, even the most egregiously specious. It is considered a kind of background radiation, a running cost of being very rich and very famous. The plaintiff in this case may wish to reflect upon why Ye has chosen to pursue this dispute, above all others and at enormous expense, all the way to a jury verdict.”

MANDATORY: Kanye West & Wife Warned to Dress Appropriately in Court. West is involved in a lawsuit filed by a former employee, who alleges labor violations during his time working on renovations at the rapper’s Malibu beach house. https://t.co/413h1zq3Ch

— American Crime Stories (@AmericanCrime01) February 25, 2026

Saxon alleges he worked about seven weeks in 2021 as a project manager, security guard and live-in caretaker during renovations of the minimalist home designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Saxon claims Ye promised to pay him $20,000 per week and now owes him more than $1 million in unpaid wages, overtime and expenses. His other attorney, Ron Zambrano, told jurors that Ye wanted the oceanfront property stripped to an extreme “off-the-grid” vision, ordering the gut-job and removal of windows, plumbing, electricity, and fireplaces. Saxon says he slept in a makeshift sleeping bag on the concrete floors while overseeing demolition and coordinating contractors, and that he later injured his back on the job.

Ye’s attorney, Andrew Cherkasky, countered that Saxon was not an employee but an unlicensed independent contractor who was paid roughly $240,000 for about six weeks of work. Cherkasky told jurors Saxon brought his own tools and crew, chose to stay at the house on his own and ultimately quit. He argued there were no unpaid invoices at the time and that Saxon did not claim he was owed money until filing suit in 2023.

Jurors will be asked to decide whether Saxon acted as an employee entitled to wage protections or as an independent contractor who was fully compensated. Ye was not present in court Tuesday, but is expected early next week.

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