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Nicki Minaj Faces Default-Judgment Motion Over $229,541 Unpaid Legal Fees
A Los Angeles County Superior Court filing shows that rapper Nicki Minaj is the subject of a motion for default judgment from law firm Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani (GRSM). The firm, which represented Minaj in a 2023 copyright lawsuit, claims the artist owes $229,541 in legal bills that have not been paid.
The lawsuit was filed by GRSM in March 2026 after the artist failed to respond to the initial complaint. The firm has since moved for a default judgment, and a hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2026. If the court grants the motion, Minaj could be required to pay the amount stated in the complaint plus additional costs incurred by the firm during the collection process.
The debt stems from the legal work GRSM performed on a copyright case that began in 2023. Composer Julius Johnson alleged that Minaj had used the beat for his 2014 track “I Lied.” The case was settled confidentially in late 2024 after 18 months of litigation. The settlement agreement required each party to bear its own legal fees. GRSM’s contract with Minaj, however, specifies that the artist is liable for the firm’s fees regardless of the case’s outcome.
According to court documents, the $229,541 figure is based on billable hours recorded in tenths of an hour. Senior partners were billed at $650 per hour and associates at $425 per hour. The contract also provides that the party that wins a collection dispute may recover the legal fees and costs incurred during the collection proceeding.
Minaj’s legal troubles are not limited to this matter. In January 2026, a judge in Los Angeles County threatened to order the sale of her mansion after she failed to settle a $500,000 judgment owed to a concert security guard who was allegedly assaulted by the rapper’s husband. The judgment was later paid.
In March 2026, the artist was sued by a concert production company for $275,000, alleging that she had failed to pay agreed fees. The company’s complaint was filed in the same court.
Earlier in February 2026, Minaj’s former attorney, Matthew Abbott of Northstar Business Enterprises, withdrew from a $10 million defamation lawsuit filed against her by a former fan. Abbott cited a “communication breakdown” after months of attempts to contact the rapper.
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani is an AmLaw 100 firm with more than 2,000 lawyers across the United States. The Los Angeles County Superior Court, where the case is pending, is the largest unified trial court in the country.
The court’s hearing on September 10 will determine whether the judge will enter a default judgment against Minaj. The decision could increase the amount owed by adding the firm’s collection costs. The outcome will be the latest addition to a series of legal disputes involving the artist over the past six months.
At present, no further statements have been released by either party. The case remains pending until the scheduled hearing.
The series of lawsuits underscores the financial and legal pressures that can accompany high‑profile music careers. While the artist’s public image remains intact, the pending judgment could affect her financial standing and contractual relationships.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court will review the motion on September 10, 2026. Until then, the status of the unpaid legal fees remains unresolved.
The lawsuit was filed by GRSM in March 2026 after the artist failed to respond to the initial complaint. The firm has since moved for a default judgment, and a hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2026. If the court grants the motion, Minaj could be required to pay the amount stated in the complaint plus additional costs incurred by the firm during the collection process.
The debt stems from the legal work GRSM performed on a copyright case that began in 2023. Composer Julius Johnson alleged that Minaj had used the beat for his 2014 track “I Lied.” The case was settled confidentially in late 2024 after 18 months of litigation. The settlement agreement required each party to bear its own legal fees. GRSM’s contract with Minaj, however, specifies that the artist is liable for the firm’s fees regardless of the case’s outcome.
According to court documents, the $229,541 figure is based on billable hours recorded in tenths of an hour. Senior partners were billed at $650 per hour and associates at $425 per hour. The contract also provides that the party that wins a collection dispute may recover the legal fees and costs incurred during the collection proceeding.
Minaj’s legal troubles are not limited to this matter. In January 2026, a judge in Los Angeles County threatened to order the sale of her mansion after she failed to settle a $500,000 judgment owed to a concert security guard who was allegedly assaulted by the rapper’s husband. The judgment was later paid.
In March 2026, the artist was sued by a concert production company for $275,000, alleging that she had failed to pay agreed fees. The company’s complaint was filed in the same court.
Earlier in February 2026, Minaj’s former attorney, Matthew Abbott of Northstar Business Enterprises, withdrew from a $10 million defamation lawsuit filed against her by a former fan. Abbott cited a “communication breakdown” after months of attempts to contact the rapper.
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani is an AmLaw 100 firm with more than 2,000 lawyers across the United States. The Los Angeles County Superior Court, where the case is pending, is the largest unified trial court in the country.
The court’s hearing on September 10 will determine whether the judge will enter a default judgment against Minaj. The decision could increase the amount owed by adding the firm’s collection costs. The outcome will be the latest addition to a series of legal disputes involving the artist over the past six months.
At present, no further statements have been released by either party. The case remains pending until the scheduled hearing.
The series of lawsuits underscores the financial and legal pressures that can accompany high‑profile music careers. While the artist’s public image remains intact, the pending judgment could affect her financial standing and contractual relationships.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court will review the motion on September 10, 2026. Until then, the status of the unpaid legal fees remains unresolved.
