Cardi B, the Grammy-winning artist, has secured a pivotal legal victory ahead of her impending trial, where she stands accused of assaulting a security guard. This significant pre-trial ruling dictates that her controversial past, including her history as an exotic dancer, will be strictly off-limits to the jury, aiming to maintain focus on the specific allegations at hand.
The lawsuit, brought forth by former Beverly Hills Medical Center security guard Emani Ellis, stems from an incident in 2018. At the time of the altercation, Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, was approximately four months pregnant and visiting her OBGYN, a detail she was then attempting to keep private from the public eye.
Ellis alleges that during the confrontation, Cardi B physically attacked her, striking her with long fingernails. This purported assault, Ellis claims, resulted in facial cuts and scarring severe enough to necessitate plastic surgery for repair, forming the core of the plaintiff’s demand for monetary damages.
Conversely, the “WAP” hitmaker vehemently denies any physical contact, asserting that the interaction remained strictly verbal. Cardi B contends that the dispute escalated after she overheard Ellis discussing her presence at the medical facility on the phone, a breach of privacy given her efforts to conceal her pregnancy.
With the trial set to commence on August 11, Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman issued the definitive order on Wednesday, July 30. The judge’s decision explicitly bars any attempts by Ellis to introduce elements of Cardi B’s personal history, including past legal troubles or prior professions, into the courtroom proceedings.
Judge Fusselman emphasized in his ruling that such details possess “no apparent probative value.” He further elaborated that presenting references to “Defendant’s prior acts and alleged prior acts, as well as prior involvement in exotic dancing or any gang associations,” would be “unduly prejudicial and likely to confuse the jury and result in an undue waste of time.” This legal judgment is a critical development for the defense.
Beyond the exclusion of specific evidence, Judge Fusselman’s ruling also outlines a two-phase structure for the August trial. The initial phase will focus solely on determining Cardi B’s liability for assault and battery. Should the jury find her liable, a subsequent second phase would then address the potential awarding of monetary damages, streamlining the legal process.
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