Kanye West to face trial over USD 1 million lawsuit; ex-employee sues rapper over unpaid wages

Kanye West may just be heading to court this week to face trial in a lawsuit filed by a former employee over alleged unpaid wages. According to court papers obtained by People, the rapper will likely face trial over the lawsuit, first filed in September 2023. In the suit, West's former employee, Tony Saxon, alleged that he was hired as a project manager for West's beachfront Malibu property, for a total of USD 20,000 per week. As per the report, his role has him as full-time caretaker and security for the USD 57 million pad. He alleged that he received only one weekly payment and was forced to sleep in makeshift conditions on the property. The lawsuit further alleges that his complaints about the poor conditions of the home were ignored.Saxon’s complaint includes allegations of disability discrimination, violations of various acts, including wrongful retaliatory termination. Back in February, Saxon's legal team stated that he is seeking more than USD 1 million in 'unpaid wages' besides 'loss of earnings' and also seeking compensation for medical expenses and emotional distress. His attorney Neama Rahmani told People, “Tony has been waiting for two and a half years for his day in court, and he’s looking forward to telling his story to a jury. This is the first time Ye (Kanye) will be testifying in a courtroom. The public will be able to draw their own conclusions as to who is telling the truth.”Meanwhile, West filed a separate lawsuit against Saxon and his attorneys in January, claiming that they wrongfully placed a USD 1.8 million mechanics lien on the Malibu property, which allows unpaid contractors or labourers to place a claim against a property, potentially leading to foreclosure proceedings over unsettled debts.As per a report on the Los Angeles Times, the lien was filed as a means for Saxon to secure compensation for his work.According to People, jury selection is scheduled to begin on February 23, with Judge Brock T. Hammond presiding over the case.On the professional front, Kanye is set to perform live for the first time in India with a gig in New Delhi in March. The rapper will perform at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on March 29.