Ali filed the criticism in 2023, accusing Nelly of withholding credit score and royalties for Country Grammar, the rapper’s 2000 debut album that grew to become a business breakthrough. He alleged that Nelly misled his former collaborators and manipulated them into believing they’d be compensated for his or her work.

Nelly denied any wrongdoing and stated the claims have been many years late, falling nicely exterior the Copyright Act’s three-year statute of limitations. Ali dropped the lawsuit in April.

Nelly Wants Money Back From Lawyer Who Filed “Country Grammar” Lawsuit

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger dominated final month that Gates continued urgent the case regardless of clear authorized limitations. He wrote that it ought to have been “patently obvious” by November that the swimsuit was barred, but Gates “doubled down” and compelled Nelly to incur pointless authorized bills defending a declare he argued lacked any authorized footing.

On Wednesday, Nelly’s attorneys submitted a charge request totaling $78,007 for 142 hours of labor by three copyright litigators. Attorney Kenneth Freundlich wrote that the charges have been in keeping with market requirements in New York and that the hours have been justified as soon as Gates refused to withdraw the criticism.

“These rates are reasonable,” Freundlich stated within the submitting, emphasizing that Nelly shouldn’t bear the price of opposing a swimsuit the court docket deemed faulty.

Gates can be allowed to argue for a decreased quantity earlier than the court docket units a closing determine. She advised Billboard that she nonetheless believed sanctions have been “unwarranted.” She added: “Acted with the honest conviction that our client’s claims merited judicial consideration.”

Her assertion indicators persevering with disagreement over accountability for a case that rapidly fell aside.

The St. Lunatics’ criticism started to unravel shortly after it was filed. Three members—Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud—advised the court docket they by no means approved the lawsuit. They didn’t intend to sue Nelly. Ali pursued the case alone earlier than withdrawing it.

The sanction request now turns the deserted swimsuit into a possible monetary penalty. Nelly is searching for reimbursement for defending Country Grammar in opposition to allegations he says ought to by no means have reached federal court docket.