After being dropped by his legal team, Kanye West did not attend a critical court hearing in connection with his litigation against his former business partner, the Gap, a new report claimed.
A hearing was conducted in Los Angeles Superior Court on September 12 in connection with the lawsuit, as indicated by court documents obtained by In Touch Weekly. The court minutes indicated that Kanye, 47, and his company, Yeezy, did not appear or contact the court.
Additionally, the judge observed that Kanye and his organization failed to notify the court of any new representation following the departure of their previous attorney. The Gap's request for a representative from Yeezy to attend a deposition was granted by the judge.
Furthermore, the court minutes indicated that Kanye will be summoned to participate in his own deposition in the case in the near future. The Gap was sued by a company named Art City Center in 2022, which sparked the legal spectacle.
According to the lawsuit, the retail behemoth leased a building in Downtown Los Angeles from Art City Center. As part of the partnership between his apparel company, Yeezy, and The Gap, Kanye was to utilize the building.
In 2020, the rapper and Gap engaged in a partnership that would see Yeezy being sold in Gap stores worldwide.
The agreement was terminated two years later when Kanye accused the Gap of failing to adhere to its terms. Art City accused The Gap of making numerous, "significant, unapproved modifications" to the building in the lawsuit.
The company's lawsuit sought damages exceeding $800,000. The Gap refuted all allegations of misconduct.
Ye and Yeezy were countersued by the corporation for $2 million. The retail company accused Ye and his team of making the alterations to the building in Downtown L.A. in the suit.
The Gap stated that it was unaware of the project and did not endorse it.
“The performance of the work not only breached the Strategic Agreement, but the manner of preparing for and performing the work caused the need for the repairs and restoration alleged in the complaint,” the suit purported.
The countersuit alleged that “by making and not repairing or restoring the foregoing alterations of the Premises that [Ye] made without Gap’s participation or approval, [Ye] breached the Strategic Agreement and directly and proximately caused Gap to incur expenses to repair and restore the premises.”
Brian Brumfield, a litigator, terminated Kanye and his organization in August. He requested to withdraw from his role as Ye's attorney in numerous disputes and informed the judges “Defendant, Kanye West, terminated the relationship on 6/21/2024.”
“Defendant also will not speak to counsel and Defendant refuses to pay counsel as well," Brian added. The request was approved by the magistrate. A hearing was scheduled to enable Kanye and Yeezy to secure new counsel; however, they have yet to do so. The litigation is ongoing.
Currently, Kanye is confronted with legal disputes from former instructors at his Donda Academy, which he has attempted to dismiss, as per CBS News. A group of adolescents who claim they were discriminated against while working on a project for him are also suing him. The allegations were publicly refuted by Ye's erstwhile chief of staff.
Additionally, Kanye was sued by an autograph seeker for an alleged assault, which he attempted to dismiss by asserting that he was defending himself.
Business Times has reached out to Kanye West for comments.
