Rapper and fashion mogul Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, has been ordered by a jury to pay $140,000 to a former worker after a legal dispute connected to the renovation of his luxury home in Malibu, California.
According to court records from the Los Angeles Superior Court, the ruling followed a two week trial centered on claims brought by Tony Saxon, a worker hired during West’s attempt to transform the beachfront property into a self sufficient and “Off the grid” residence.
The jury delivered a mixed verdict, awarding Saxon $100,000 for past and future medical expenses and $40,000 for pain and suffering after he said he was injured while working on the property.
However, the panel rejected several other claims, including allegations of wrongful termination and requests for punitive damages.
Saxon had originally sought about $1.7 million in compensation.
The property involved in the dispute is a modernist mansion designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
During renovation work, much of the structure was stripped down to a bare concrete shell as part of West’s unconventional redesign plans, which reportedly included unusual features such as replacing a staircase with a slide.
Saxon claimed he was effectively forced to remain on site while carrying out work and later suffered an injury.
West’s representatives argued that most of the allegations were rejected by the jury and said they may challenge the damages award in court.
Legal tensions between the two sides are not over.
West has filed a separate lawsuit against Saxon and his attorneys regarding a mechanic’s lien placed on the Malibu property, which he argues interfered with attempts to sell the house.