Nicki Minaj faces $230K in unpaid legal bill as judge weighs default ruling

Nicki Minaj is facing another legal challenge after a law firm claimed the rapper owes nearly $230,000 in unpaid legal fees linked to a copyright lawsuit that was settled in 2024. The dispute has now reached a critical stage, with a judge considering whether to enter a default judgment after Minaj allegedly failed to respond to the firm's lawsuit.

According to court filings, national law firm Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani represented Minaj during a copyright infringement case filed in 2023. The lawsuit accused the rapper of copying the beat used in her 2014 song "I Lied" from composer Julius Johnson. That case concluded in late 2024 through a confidential settlement, bringing the copyright dispute to an end.

The law firm now alleges that Minaj never fully paid for the legal services it provided during the case. In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles in March 2026, the firm claims the rapper owes $229,541 under the legal services agreement she signed when retaining its lawyers.

Court documents state that the agreement required legal work to be billed at hourly rates, with invoices issued monthly and payable upon receipt. The contract also reportedly made clear that the client remained responsible for legal fees regardless of the outcome of the case. Senior partners billed at hourly rates of up to $650, while lower level associates billed at $425 per hour.

The matter has progressed after Minaj allegedly failed to respond to the lawsuit within the required timeframe. Earlier this month, Gordon Rees requested a default judgment, asking the court to rule in its favour without a trial because no response had been filed. A hearing has now been scheduled for September, when a judge will decide whether to grant that request.

If the court enters a default judgment, Minaj could be ordered to pay not only the outstanding legal fees but potentially additional attorneys' fees and collection costs. The law firm argues that its contract includes a provision allowing the successful party in a collection action to recover the costs of pursuing unpaid bills.

Representatives for Minaj had not publicly responded to the latest allegations at the time the court filings were reported. A default judgment is not automatic, but it becomes a possibility when a defendant fails to participate in legal proceedings after being properly served.

The latest case adds to a series of legal disputes involving the rapper this year. In January, Minaj resolved a judgment connected to a lawsuit filed by a concert security guard who alleged he had been assaulted by her husband. She also faced another lawsuit in March from a concert production company that claimed it was owed approximately $275,000 in unpaid fees.

The copyright case that generated the disputed legal bill had already been settled confidentially, with both parties agreeing to bear their own legal costs. However, Gordon Rees maintains that its separate contract with Minaj governs payment for its services, making the current dispute independent of the original copyright litigation.

Unless the case is resolved beforehand, the September hearing will determine whether the court grants the requested default judgment or allows the matter to proceed through further legal proceedings.