Lil Wayne wins $20 million legal battle against former lawyer

A judge has declared that the 10% fee agreement between Wayne and his longtime attorney is no longer valid.

[via rxphilly]

Weezy achieved a major legal victory in a continuing lawsuit filed by his former attorney, who alleged that he was owed $20 million in fees.

Lil Wayne has secured a victory win in an extended legal dispute concerning whether he was obligated to pay millions in fees to his former lawyer.

Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter Jr. and attorney Ron Sweeney have been in a legal battle for over seven years regarding the terms of a contingency fee agreement that initially granted Sweeney 10% of Wayne's earnings.

The New Orleans rap legend initially filed a lawsuit in 2019, arguing that the 10% fee was "exorbitant" and "double the customary rate for attorneys in the music industry." Wayne contended that since the agreement was only verbal and never formalized in writing, it became invalid when he dismissed Sweeney in 2018.

Sweeney filed a countersuit against Wayne, initially in California and subsequently in New York, asserting that the fee should be upheld. The attorney claimed he was owed $20 million from deals that proceeded after his dismissal, including Wayne’s confidential royalty settlement with Cash Money Records and a purported sale of Young Money master recordings to Universal Music Group (UMG).

On Tuesday (Oct. 14), a New York judge ruled in favor of Wayne, determining that Sweeney is not entitled to 10% of any money earned after his termination.

“Counterclaim plaintiffs may not, under [the law], receive a contingency fee, as contemplated by the voided oral contingency fee arrangement or otherwise,” wrote Judge James D’Auguste. “Accordingly, they are not entitled to discovery regarding the monies received by Carter in connection with the master recordings sale and Cash Money/Universal settlements.”

The judge stated that Sweeney is entitled to pursue only "reasonable fees" from Wayne. The determination of what qualifies as reasonable fees will proceed to evidence discovery, with Sweeney still aiming for many millions. Wayne argues that Sweeney is owed nothing, claiming the lawyer was overpaid during their 13-year collaboration.

Wayne’s lawyer, Jonathan Davis, expressed his satisfaction with the ruling in a statement reported by Billboard on Thursday (Oct. 16).

“After an almost seven-year battle in multiple courts in New York and California, lawyers can rest a little easier in knowing that the rule of law still matters and will be applied faithfully by courts,” said Davis. “Mr. Carter is thankful to Justice d’Auguste for his significant decision against Ron Sweeney and his company.”

Reps for Sweeney did not immediately return a request for comment.