Kanye West Loses Bid to Limit Claims in Lawsuit Over $57 Million Malibu Home
A Los Angeles County judge has rejected Kanye West’s attempt to sharply curtail a lawsuit brought by a construction consultant who alleges he was exposed to dangerous working conditions during the renovation of the rapper’s former Malibu home. The ruling keeps the case on track for a March trial and adds another chapter to the protracted legal fallout surrounding the architecturally significant property.
At a hearing on Thursday, the judge declined to block claims filed by Tony Saxon, who sued West, now known as Ye, in 2023. Saxon contends he was hired in September 2021 to oversee renovations at the beachfront residence, which was originally designed by Tadao Ando, and that he was subjected to hazardous conditions while living on-site. West had argued Saxon should be barred from recovering any construction-related compensation because he was not a licensed contractor. The court found the challenge premature, ruling that Saxon’s claims were sufficiently pleaded and that any disputes over licensing should be resolved by a jury.
The judge set the matter for trial beginning March 2 and suggested mediation in the interim. Saxon’s counsel said he would reach out to West’s legal team to explore that option; West’s attorneys did not appear at Thursday’s hearing.
In his complaint, Saxon says he was promised $20,000 per week to manage the renovation and provide around-the-clock security while living at the site. He alleges he received only a single payment over roughly two months and that he slept on the construction site without basic amenities as West’s demands escalated. According to the suit, a pivotal incident occurred on Nov. 5, 2021, when West allegedly ordered Saxon to remove all electricity and windows from the home. Saxon says he warned that the directive posed “extreme danger,” particularly when West purportedly insisted on running large generators indoors to continue work, conditions Saxon describes as a serious fire risk.
Saxon alleges that after he refused to comply, West threatened him, labeled him “an enemy,” and ordered him off the project, effectively ending his role. The lawsuit seeks unpaid wages, medical expenses, and damages for lost earnings and emotional distress, including compensation for a back injury Saxon says he suffered during the project.
West’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment on the ruling. However, the dispute has broadened in recent weeks. West and his lawyers filed a separate action against Saxon last week, alleging that Saxon and his attorneys improperly placed a $1.8 million lien on the Malibu property and pursued publicity intended to pressure West during ongoing litigation. That complaint points to public statements suggesting any sale of the property would require Saxon’s claims to be resolved first.
A judge released the lien last July, finding it had not been properly enforced, but West alleges the episode caused significant financial harm. According to his filing, the lien forced him to purchase a bond to proceed with a sale and discouraged potential buyers and lenders by increasing perceived transactional risk.
West ultimately sold the home in September 2024 for $21 million, far below the $57.3 million he paid in 2021. The buyer, real estate investor Steve “Bo” Belmont, said publicly that his intention was to restore the house to its original architectural vision.
