Fat Joe walked away with a limited court win after a judge found attorney Tyrone Blackburn in contempt over missed depositions tied to an ongoing lawsuit.
Judge Jennifer L. Rochon determined that Blackburn and his client, Terrance “T.A.” Dixon, failed to appear for depositions scheduled in early February.
The court noted that Blackburn had informed opposing counsel he would not attend, but did not take further action to resolve the issue, and as a result, the court ordered reimbursement for costs associated with the missed sessions.
“Defendants are ORDERED to pay Plaintiff the reasonable costs incurred,” the ruling stated.
Fat Joe’s attorneys had pushed for stronger penalties, including legal fees and disciplinary referrals, but those measures were not approved. The case stems from Dixon’s lawsuit against the rapper, which has since been revised. The current claims focus on alleged unpaid wages and related disputes.
Court proceedings have also drawn attention due to Blackburn’s conduct. During a deposition, he said, “The medication… does funny things that I don’t know. It’s messing my head up,” while continuing to participate.
Fat Joe previously spoke out about the situation, saying, “The time of lawyers using their law license as a badge to extort people… is over. I’m not the one.”
Blackburn has been given a deadline to cover the costs tied to the missed depositions as the case continues.