Kanye West, now known as Ye, is taking legal action against his former project manager and a law firm, claiming they improperly placed a $1.8 million lien on his former Malibu mansion.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court and names Tony Saxon and West Coast Trial Lawyers as defendants.
According to the complaint, Ye alleges the lien was invalid and recorded while Saxon and his attorneys launched what he describes as an aggressive publicity campaign. The suit claims those actions were intended to pressure him publicly, chill potential buyers, and force him to pay for claims that are already being disputed in court.
Saxon previously sued Ye in September 2023, alleging unpaid wages, labor violations, and disability discrimination connected to his work at the Malibu property, where he served as a project manager, security guard, and caretaker. Ye has denied the allegations, stating in a court filing that Saxon suffered no damages caused by him.
Court documents say Saxon placed the mechanics lien in January 2024, shortly after Ye listed the home for sale. The lawsuit points to a statement Saxon’s attorney made to the media, saying, “If someone wants to buy Kanye’s Malibu home, they will have to deal with us first.”
Ye argues the comment falsely implied the lien could block a sale. The filing also states that a judge later ordered the lien released and awarded Ye attorneys’ fees.