The popular rapper and actor 50 Cent has filed an action against his former attorneys seeking over $ 30 million, or 60 million of himself. Basically, 50 Cent is asserting that legal malpractice caused him to lose the highly publicized sex tape case against him, and that a breach of fiduciary duty by his former attorneys occurred both during that representation and when they later advised him to declare bankruptcy.
50 Cent, also known as Curtis Jackson, is no stranger to legal filings. He has been the plaintiff and defendant in several legal matters over the past several years. The sex tape case however resulted in a $ 7 million dollar judgment against him.
Sex Tape Scandal, Part 2
Underlying the claim against 50’s lawyers is the sex tape civil case that 50 lost. That case was filed after a sex tape of rival Rick Ross’s ex-girlfriend, Lastonia Leviston, was released. Leviston attributed the release of the sex tape to 50 Cent, and secured a multi-million dollar jury verdict against him on invasion of privacy claims. Meanwhile, 50 claims that Rick Ross was to blame for the tape’s release and that his attorneys did not even interview Ross prior to the trial. Additionally, Ross was actually being represented by an attorney that, 50 claims, created a conflict of interest for his attorneys.
However, it was reported that 50 Cent did not take the trial seriously. He allegedly failed to show up for trial and refused to testify as a witness at the trial, which is a fact his former attorneys may rely heavily upon to defend against the malpractice claim.
Bad Bankruptcy
In addition to the claim that his attorneys mishandled the sex tape case, 50 Cent is claiming that his former attorneys’ fees requested through the bankruptcy are objectionable.
Despite replacing the attorneys on the eve of trial, and on top of losing at trial, he was still charged over a million dollars for their services. During the bankruptcy, the lawyers requested payment of over half-a-million dollars in connection with the sex tape case. 50 asserts that the fee request was still excessive.
Related Resources:
- 50 Cent Enters $ 23 Million Bankruptcy Settlement (FindLaw’s Celebrity Justice)
- 50 Cent in Bankruptcy Court for Broke Joke Post (FindLaw’s Celebrity Justice)
- 50 Cent Filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Does This Mean He’s Broke? (FindLaw’s Celebrity Justice)
- 50 Cent Sues Rick Ross for Copyright Infringement (FindLaw’s Celebrity Justice)