Lil Wayne ‘Thankful’ After Key Legal Victory in Years-Long, $20M Battle With Ex-Lawyer

Lil Wayne has scored a large triumph successful a long-running ineligible conflict implicit whether helium owed millions successful fees to his erstwhile attorney.

Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) and lawyer Ron Sweeney person been facing disconnected against each different successful tribunal for much than 7 years implicit the presumption of a contingency interest arrangement, which primitively entitled Sweeney to 10% of Wayne’s profits.

The rapper archetypal sued successful 2019, claiming the 10% interest was an “exorbitant” magnitude that’s “double the customary complaint for attorneys successful the euphony industry.” Wayne said that due to the fact that the statement was verbal lone and ne'er signed, it became void arsenic soon arsenic helium fired Sweeney successful 2018.

Sweeney countersued Wayne, archetypal successful California and aboriginal successful New York, claiming the interest should beryllium enforced. The lawyer said helium was owed $20 cardinal from deals that went done aft his termination, including Wayne’s confidential royalty settlement with Cash Money Records and an alleged merchantability of Young Money maestro recordings to Universal Music Group (UMG).

A New York justice sided with Wayne connected Tuesday (Oct. 14), ruling that Sweeney isn’t owed 10% connected immoderate wealth that came done aft helium was fired.

“Counterclaim plaintiffs whitethorn not, nether [the law], person a contingency fee, arsenic contemplated by the voided oral contingency interest statement oregon otherwise,” wrote Judge James D’Auguste. “Accordingly, they are not entitled to find regarding the monies received by Carter successful transportation with the maestro recordings merchantability and Cash Money/Universal settlements.”

According to the judge, Sweeney tin lone prosecute “reasonable fees” from Wayne. The question of what constitutes tenable fees volition present determination guardant into grounds discovery, with Sweeney inactive seeking galore millions. Wayne maintains that Sweeney is owed thing due to the fact that the lawyer was really overpaid during their 13 years moving together.

Wayne’s attorney, Jonathan Davis, celebrated the ruling successful a connection to Billboard on Thursday (Oct. 16).

“After an astir seven-year conflict successful aggregate courts successful New York and California, lawyers tin remainder a small easier successful knowing that the regularisation of instrumentality inactive matters and volition beryllium applied faithfully by courts,” said Davis. “Mr. Carter is thankful to Justice d’Auguste for his important determination against Ron Sweeney and his company.”

Reps for Sweeney did not instantly instrumentality a petition for comment.