Judge Sides with Cardi B, Fines Lawyer $1,500 for Asking Her About Potential Gang Affiliation During Trial: Reports By Charlotte Phillipp

Four months after a Los Angeles County jury ruled that Cardi B was not liable for assault and battery against former security guard Emani Ellis, a judge has issued a fine to Ellis’ attorney for improperly asking the rapper about possible “gang affiliations.”

According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman wrote in a Wednesday, Jan. 28 decision that Ellis’ lawyer Ron A. Rosen Janfaza violated a court order by asking about Cardi’s personal history.

Before the August 2025 trial began, Fusselman ordered attorneys not to ask the rapper (born Belcalis Almánzar) about so-called prior bad acts, including exotic dancing and alleged “former association with a gang or gang members during her youth,” as they could confuse the jury and result in an undue waste of time” and would be “unduly prejudicial.”

However, one of the first questions Janfaza asked Cardi on Aug. 26 was, “Do you have any affiliation at this time with a gang?” The rapper’s attorneys quickly objected, and the judge reminded Janfaza “about the clear violation of the court’s ruling,” according to the decision.

Janfaza was hit with a $1,500 fine for asking the question, according to the outlet. He has until Feb. 27 to pay, and must self-report the sanctions order to the California State Bar within 30 days.

On Sept. 2, 2025, the jury found that Cardi was not liable after Ellis claimed that the Grammy winner had assaulted her by scratching her with an acrylic fingernail outside of a Beverly Hills medical office in February 2018.

Cardi’s attorneys asked soon after that Janfaza be held in contempt for the gang question, as well as referencing evidence that was not introduced during the trial in his closing argument.

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Janfaza then claimed that his office manager had drafted his questions for Cardi, he was sleep-deprived during the court proceedings and that the phrase “at this time” made the question relevant.

“The court is not persuaded by any of these arguments,” Judge Fusselman wrote, according to Billboard. “It is clear that Mr. Janfaza was aware of the [prior] ruling and that the question was specifically drafted in an attempt to avoid directly violating the letter, but not the clear intent, of the court’s ruling. …It was a knowing and intentional violation of the court’s ruling.”

Ellis first sued Cardi in 2020, but the rapper — who at the time of the incident was pregnant with her first child — has repeatedly denied the assault allegations.

Cardi admitted that she was involved in a “verbal altercation” with Ellis, whom she claimed was invading her privacy by video recording her before an OB-GYN appointment.

Before the confrontation, Cardi stepped off an elevator and into a hallway at Beverly Hills doctor’s office, where she then passed Ellis, whom the rapper claims was recording a video of her. Cardi also claimed Ellis then told someone on the phone that she had just seen the musician. Ellis then claimed that Cardi cut her face with a fingernail and spat on her while yelling profanity and racial slurs at Ellis.

While Cardi said the two got into a verbal argument, she denied that she assaulted Ellis. She explained that at the time she had “a high level of concern.”

Janfaza asked Cardi why she was “concerned” during the altercation. “Because I’m pregnant!” Cardi responded. “And this girl’s about to f—ing beat my ass! Hello?”

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During the trial, many of Cardi’s impassioned exchanges with the Janfaza went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs.

One moment that grabbed lots of attention came when Janfaza was notably confused due to a wig swap from Cardi on Aug. 26.

“Yesterday you had black hair, short hair. Today it’s blonde and long. Which one is your real hair? Or are they both real?” Janfaza said.

After rolling her eyes and laughing, Cardi said, “They’re wigs!” before Janfaza responded, “Sorry, I didn’t know that. It’s a good wig today then.”

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The same day, Janfaza fielded Cardi questions about legal terms that she wasn’t familiar with. At one point, he asked her, “When I’m talking to you now, are we having a verbal altercation?”

The “Bodak Yellow” performer responded, “We’re having, I’ll say, a debate,” which drew a laugh from the crowd in the courtroom.

After the judge shared the jury’s verdict, Cardi spoke to reporters outside the courthouse, saying, “I did not touch that woman. With that being said, this time around, I’m gonna be nice. The next time someone tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to countersue. I’m going to make you pay, because this is not okay.”