Lil Wayne has officially come out on top after a long-running legal dispute with his former lawyer, Ron Sweeney. The feud, which began years ago, revolved around unpaid legal fees and a controversial payment arrangement. According to Digital Music News, a New York judge recently ruled in favor of the rapper, bringing the case to a close after nearly seven years of back-and-forth court battles.
The disagreement started when Wayne filed a lawsuit in 2019, claiming Sweeney had unfairly charged him a 10 percent contingency fee from his profits. He argued that this amount was “double the customary rate for attorneys in the music industry” and should not have been enforced because their agreement was never signed before he fired Sweeney in 2018. Sweeney, however, fired back by suing Wayne in both New York and California, demanding $20 million. He insisted that the rapper still owed him money from several business deals made after their professional relationship ended, including a settlement with Cash Money Records and a deal involving Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Young Money masters.
Judge James D’Auguste’s ruling on October 14 determined that Sweeney could not collect 10 percent of Wayne’s post-termination earnings. The court documents reportedly stated, “Counterclaim plaintiffs may not, under [the law], receive a contingency fee. As contemplated by the voided oral contingency fee arrangement or otherwise.” The judge also blocked Sweeney from seeking discovery into Wayne’s financial transactions but noted that he could still pursue “reasonable fees” for past services.
Wayne’s attorney, Jonathan Davis, shared his relief with Billboard, saying, “After an almost seven-year battle in multiple courts in New York and California, lawyers can rest a little easier in knowing that the rule of law still matters and will be applied faithfully by courts.” With the decision finalized, Lil Wayne can now move forward without the weight of this legal fight hanging over him.
