Rapper Kanye West ordered to pay $1,40,000 to his former employee over mansion renovation lawsuit

Rapper Kanye West has been ordered to pay $1,40,000 to his former employee Tony Saxon over a lawsuit alleging unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions, and wrongful termination during renovation of his mansion, as per reports.

In 2023, Tony Saxon, former employee, reportedly filed the lawsuit over alleging unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions and wrongful conditions and wrongful termination during renovating his Malibu mansion. In this case, the court ordered Kanye West to pay $1,40,000 to Saxon.

Reportedly, Saxon had sought $1.7m for lost wages and medical expenses incurred while working at the property, but following the 10-day trial, he was awarded $140,000 in damages. During trial, Saxon testified in the court that West initially agreed to pay him $ 20,000 per week but paid only once this payment and paid one other payment of $ 1,00,000 for construction cost. He also testified that he worked under unsafe conditions and was wrongly terminated by West.

West's lawyer reportedly depicted Saxon as an unreliable witness and also said he was paid $ 2,40,000 by showing bank records during the six weeks he worked for the rapper. West said that he did not remember many of the interactions Saxon testified. West bought the home for $57m in 2021, but after it was stripped out and abandoned, sold it for a loss in 2023.

Reports suggest that it is the first of more than a dozen lawsuits filed against West by former employees to go to trial.