{"id":129652,"date":"2025-09-03T12:15:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T12:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/129652\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T12:15:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T12:15:20","slug":"cardi-b-wins-civil-assault-trial-brought-by-security-guard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/129652\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardi B wins civil assault trial brought by security guard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cardi B has prevailed in a civil lawsuit brought against her by a Beverly Hills security guard after two days of testimony from the rapper that was sometimes colorful and drew laughter from jurors.<\/p>\n

Emani Ellis sued Cardi B for $24 million, accusing her of assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress in the aftermath of a confrontation in a hallway outside of an obstetrician\u2019s office. Ellis claimed that, during the set-to, the rapper scratched her with a long nail extension, leaving a facial scar. <\/p>\n

The hip-hop star was found not liable on all counts by jurors after less
than an hour of deliberations. <\/p>\n

\u201cI swear to God, I will say it on my deathbed, I did not touch that woman,\u201d Cardi B said outside the courthouse following the conclusion of the trial. She added that she had missed her kids\u2019 first day of school because of the civil trial.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank my lawyers,\u201d she said, \u201cI want to thank the jurors, I want to thank the judge, and I want to thank the respectful press.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Alm\u00e1nzar, testified that she never touched, scratched or spat at the security guard, who she believed was taking video of her with her cellphone. The rapper was four months pregnant and had an appointment on the day of the incident \u2014 Feb. 24, 2018.<\/p>\n

Ellis worked as a security guard at the Beverly Hills building where Cardi B had her medical appointment, and she testified that she was doing her rounds when she saw the celebrity exit the elevator. She testified that she was overcome with excitement and declared, \u201cWow, it\u2019s Cardi B.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis alleged that the performer then turned to her and said, \u201cWhy the f\u2014 are you telling people you\u2019ve seen me?\u201d Cardi B then accused her of trying to spread news about her being at the doctor\u2019s office, she testified during the four-day trial.<\/p>\n

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, Ellis said. She alleged Cardi B spat on her, took a swing at her and scratched her left cheek with a 2- to 3-inch fingernail.<\/p>\n

But jurors believed Cardi B\u2019s version of events, which was that Ellis was the aggressor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The rapper blasted the plaintiff in an Alhambra courtroom, saying she was looking for a payout. Cardi B said the pair went chest-to-chest and exchanged angry words but nothing more.<\/p>\n

She told jurors that she said to Ellis: \u201cB\u2014, get the f\u2014 out of my face. Why are you in my face? Why are you recording me? Ain\u2019t you supposed to be security?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thinking to myself, \u2018Girl is big!\u2019\u201d she testified.\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s got big black boots on. I\u2019m like, \u2018D\u2014, the hell am i gonna do now?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The rapper said that she\u2019s 5 feet 3 and was 130 pounds and pregnant at the time of the incident. She wouldn\u2019t have tried to fight the guard, who was far larger, she said. <\/p>\n

Asked if she was \u201cdisabled\u201d during the incident, Cardi B\u2019s comments drew laughter in the courtroom: \u201cAt that moment, when you\u2019re pregnant, I\u2019m very disabled,\u201d she said with a roll of her eyes. \u201cYou want me to tell you the things I can\u2019t do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tierra Malcolm, a receptionist for Dr. David Finke, with whom Cardi B had an appointment that day, told jurors that she saw Ellis corner the celebrity. The receptionist said she then got between them, and the guard reached for the rapper. Malcolm said she ended up with a cut on her own forehead.<\/p>\n

Finke testified that he saw the guard cause that injury and also hit the receptionist\u2019s shoulder. He further said that Ellis had no injuries. Both testified they never saw Cardi B hit Ellis.<\/p>\n

During closing arguments on Tuesday, Ellis\u2019 attorney, Ron Rosen Janfaza, told jurors, \u201cCardi B needs to be held accountable.\u201d \u201cThere was no video camera … so really it comes down to one thing \u2014 do you believe, Ms. Ellis, a guard with a good record? She is a model citizen,\u201d he told jurors.<\/p>\n

Rosen Janfaza noted that, under cross-examination, the rapper acknowledged that she and Ellis were chest-to-chest as expletives were exchanged, and that alone is an unwelcome touch and battery on his client, he said. He told jurors that the receptionist and doctor did not see the 40 to 50 seconds where Cardi B labeled his client fat, spat on her and took a swing at her.<\/p>\n

He said his client suffered for seven years, and \u201cthis was a violent attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cardis B\u2019s attorney, Peter Anderson, said jurors needed to employ common sense to reject the security guard\u2019s story and that the preponderance of evidence showed his client did nothing more than yell and curse, and \u201cthat isn\u2019t something you can sue over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe question is whether Cardi ever struck the plaintiff,\u201d Anderson said. And the evidence is overwhelming that she did not, he said. Anderson said that the guard testified that she never made a police report, did not seek immediate medical attention, did not even use a Band-Aid on the scratch, but went home and took a nap.<\/p>\n