Nicki Minaj Faces Default Judgment Threat Over Unpaid Legal Fees

In March 2024, the Los Angeles County Superior Court received a complaint from the national firm Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP alleging that rapper Nicki Minaj owes $229,541 for legal services rendered in a copyright-infringement case concerning her 2014 track “I Lied.” The firm asserts that Minaj has not responded to the filing, prompting a motion for a default judgment. A judge scheduled a hearing for September 2026, at which the court may enter an uncontested ruling and award the firm its fees and costs.

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The underlying copyright dispute began in 2023 when composer Julius Johnson claimed Minaj stole the beat for “I Lied.” The case settled in late 2024 on confidential terms, after extensive motion practice. Under standard American practice, defendants pay their own counsel regardless of outcome, a factor that often drives artists to settle quickly. Minaj’s unpaid bill surfaces amid a series of recent legal entanglements: a January 2026 judgment ordering the sale of her Los Angeles mansion to satisfy a $500,000 debt to a concert security guard, and a March 2026 lawsuit from a concert-production company demanding $275,000 in unpaid fees.

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• Unpaid legal bill: $229,541 (approximately $230 k).

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• Contracted hourly rates: $650 per hour for senior partners, $425 per hour for associates.

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• Related judgments: $500,000 security-guard judgment; $275,000 production-company claim.

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Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani’s filing cites the client-service agreement, which obligates the client to pay fees “regardless of the outcome of this matter.” Minaj’s representatives did not return a request for comment as of July 14 2026. In defense, Alex Bruesewitz, senior advisor to former President Donald Trump, posted on X: “Another day, another TMZ lie about @NICKIMINAJ. This is completely false!” – a public denial of the allegations.

The Source

Legal analysts note that high hourly rates for national firms can create a “calculus” where artists prefer low-settlement payments to avoid mounting legal fees, a dynamic critics label “nuisance settlements.” The situation underscores broader concerns about the financial burden of defending copyright claims in the music industry.

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• “GRSM’s time will be accounted for in tenths of an hour and fees are calculated by applying hourly rates assigned to GRSM attorneys,” — Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani contract

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• “Fees and expenses will be billed monthly and are due upon receipt. Client is liable for GRSM’s fees regardless of the outcome of this matter.” — Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani contract

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• “will be awarded attorneys fees and costs incurred in a collection proceeding.” — Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani contract

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• “Another day, another TMZ lie about @NICKIMINAJ. This is completely false!” — Alex Bruesewitz, senior advisor to Donald Trump

The Source

All cited sources converge on the $229,541 figure; however, the reliability ratings of the outlets vary, and no direct comment from Minaj’s legal team has been obtained, leaving her official position unverified.

The Source

The September 2026 hearing will determine whether the court enters a default judgment, potentially obligating Minaj to pay the disputed legal fees plus additional collection costs as outlined in the contract.

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