Judge fines lawyer $1,500 for asking Cardi B about gang ties despite ban, spotlighting strict courtroom rules after tense trial moments.
The spotlight has shifted from Cardi B to courtroom conduct after a Los Angeles judge fined an attorney for crossing a clear line during the rapper’s recent civil trial.
While the jury had already ruled in Cardi B’s favor months ago, a new decision has renewed attention on how far lawyers can go when questioning witnesses — especially high-profile ones.
Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman ordered attorney Ron A. Rosen Janfaza, who represented former security guard Emani Ellis, to pay a $1,500 fine for violating a pretrial ruling.
The judge had previously instructed both sides not to bring up Cardi B’s past, including any alleged gang connections from her youth, arguing such topics would unfairly sway the jury and waste time.
Despite that order, Janfaza opened his questioning on Aug. 26 by asking Cardi B if she currently had any gang affiliation. The rapper’s legal team quickly objected, and the judge immediately reminded the attorney that the question went against his earlier ruling.
According to court documents later obtained by Rolling Stone and Billboard, Judge Fusselman determined the move was not accidental.
“The court is not persuaded by any of these arguments,” Fusselman wrote, rejecting Janfaza’s defense that sleep deprivation and help from his office manager led to the misstep.
The judge said the wording appeared crafted to dodge the rule while still bringing up a forbidden subject. He called it a “knowing and intentional violation.”
The trial itself centered on Ellis’ claim that Cardi B assaulted her outside a Beverly Hills medical office in 2018 while the rapper was pregnant. Ellis alleged Cardi scratched her face with an acrylic nail and spat at her.
Cardi admitted there was a heated verbal exchange but denied any physical contact, saying she felt threatened and was worried about her pregnancy.
In September 2025, the jury found Cardi B not liable for assault and battery, bringing an end to the legal fight that began when Ellis first filed suit in 2020.
Still, the courtroom moments captured public attention, often going viral online. Cardi B’s candid, emotional responses — sometimes filled with humor — stood out, including a light exchange about her changing wigs that drew laughter in the courtroom.
Now, the judge’s sanction serves as a reminder that even in celebrity trials, legal decorum carries serious weight. Janfaza must pay the fine by Feb. 27 and report the sanction to the California State Bar.
For Cardi B, who publicly maintained her innocence throughout the case, the decision closes yet another chapter in a years-long dispute — but it also highlights how the justice system works to keep trials focused on facts rather than distractions.
PHOTO CREDIT: Court TV/YouTube
