Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube have been dealt a authorized blow in Los Angeles after a decide denied their request to keep away from testifying in a $1.3 million fraud lawsuit tied to their Mount Westmore supergroup.

On October 22, a Superior Court decide dominated the Hip-Hop icons couldn’t sidestep depositions within the civil case introduced by Westside Merchandising. The court docket discovered their declare of getting no related information didn’t maintain up, particularly since each have been “actual signatories” on the contested settlement.

The lawsuit alleges Snoop and Ice Cube failed to meet their finish of a 2022 merchandising deal.

Westside claims they paid $1.3 million in advances, anticipating Mount Westmore to finish a 60-date tour throughout the U.S. and Europe. Instead, the group solely carried out three reveals in 2022 and none in 2023 or 2024, in line with court docket filings.

Westside additionally accused the rap veterans of skipping out on required promotional content material.

“[Westside Merchandising] was also assured that Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, both of whom were defined as key men under the [agreement], would publicize and promote the agreement by producing a promotional video to be posted on [Mount Westmore’s] social media accounts and by appearing at a retail location of Westside’s choice,” the corporate’s legal professional wrote. “None of this happened.”

The defendants had requested for a protecting order to keep away from being questioned underneath oath, providing as an alternative to seem remotely for not more than two hours. The decide rejected that proposal, discovering that Westside’s deposition request wasn’t supposed to harass or embarrass the artists.

The lawsuit additionally names E-40 and Too Short, although each rappers mentioned they weren’t events to the contract in query. Mount Westmore launched their debut album in 2022.

Westside’s legal professional John Fowler didn’t maintain again in his criticism. “Defendants in this case are trying to hide from having their depositions taken because they are scared of answering difficult questions relating to their swindle,” he instructed Us Weekly. “The defendants took my client’s money, promising to be an upstanding partner focused on touring and merchandising efforts, only to run away with seven figures of funding, and failing to provide anything in return.”

Fowler added, “My clients were sold a bill of goods, and have lost millions of dollars in merchandising opportunities, while the defendants have enriched themselves at my client’s expense.”

On the opposite facet, protection legal professional Frank Seddigh pushed again. “Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short, collectively known as Mount Westmore, have always conducted their business in good faith and with integrity,” he mentioned. “Despite multiple attempts to resolve this matter amicably, Westside Merchandising has refused to cooperate or engage in good-faith discussions.”

Seddigh additionally claimed Westside failed to fulfill its personal obligations. “Moreover, the company has failed to uphold its contractual obligations by withholding royalty payments and sales accounting that are rightfully owed to our clients,” he mentioned. “We intend to take all necessary steps to compel compliance. The facts and the law will ultimately show that Westside Merchandising’s claims against our clients are entirely baseless and without merit.”

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