Nicki Minaj is facing a lawsuit from her former legal counsel after the law firm Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP alleged she failed to pay nearly $230,000 for legal services tied to a prior copyright case.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the Los Angeles-based law firm alleges Minaj, whose legal name is Onika Maraj, owes $229,541.75 in unpaid legal fees for work performed while representing her in a copyright infringement dispute. The firm filed its complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court, asserting claims related to breach of contract and seeking to recover the outstanding balance.
The lawsuit alleges Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani entered into a legal services agreement with her in 2024 and fully performed the agreed-upon work. The firm contends the balance remains unpaid despite its efforts to collect the debt.
TMZ reported that she did not respond to the lawsuit, prompting the court clerk to enter a default against the defendants named in the case. A hearing on whether a default judgment should be entered is scheduled for September. A default is a procedural step that can occur when a defendant fails to respond to a lawsuit. It does not constitute a final judgment on the merits of the claims.
Public records indicate the legal work was connected to prior intellectual property litigation, though the current lawsuit centers solely on the firm’s claim for unpaid legal fees.
The lawsuit is the latest legal matter involving the Grammy-nominated artist. Earlier this year, a production company filed a separate lawsuit alleging Minaj and her company failed to reimburse more than $275,000 in production expenses related to concerts and promotional events.
The platinum-selling artist has also recently resolved other civil litigation, including a defamation lawsuit brought by a former fan.
Representatives for Minaj had not publicly responded to the latest allegations as of Tuesday. Court proceedings remain ongoing.
