Judge considers default judgment on Nicki Minaj over $229k

A Los Angeles judge is considering a default judgment against rapper Nicki Minaj after she failed to respond to a lawsuit from her former law firm, which claims she owes nearly $230,000 in unpaid legal fees. The firm, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, represented Minaj in a 2023 copyright infringement lawsuit that was settled in late 2024 and is now suing to collect its bill.

According to a complaint filed in March, the firm alleges Minaj breached her contract by not paying $229,541 for legal services rendered. The contract, which included industry-standard terms for billable hours, stipulated that fees were due monthly and that the client was liable regardless of the case's outcome. Minaj has not formally responded to the lawsuit. Earlier this month, the firm filed a motion for a default judgment, and a judge has scheduled a hearing for September to potentially grant the request.

This lawsuit is the latest in a series of high-value financial disputes involving the artist. In January, a judge was prepared to authorize the forced sale of Minaj's $20 million Hidden Hills mansion to satisfy a $503,318 judgment owed to a concert security guard. Court records show Minaj wired the...