Cardi B’s libel case against YouTuber has award boosted to over $4million

nme.com:

Cardi B won a libel case against YouTuber and blogger Tasha K – who the rapper accused of leading a “malicious campaign” of posts to taint her reputation – jurors have decided that Cardi should be owed an additional seven-figure sum in punitive damages.Earlier this week, the defendant (real name Latasha Kebe) was found liable for defamation, invasion of privacy and causing emotional distress, after – as Cardi alleged in her initial filing – she made “highly offensive” claims that Cardi cheated on her husband Offset, had herpes and HPV, worked as a sex worker and used cocaine.Cardi’s lawyers successfully argued that the ‘Up’ star had suffered “embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional distress”, with Kebe ordered to pay her $1.25million (£930,000) in general damages and $250,000 (£185,000) for medical expenses.Now, Rolling Stone reports that jurors have hit Kebe with an additional set of penalties, resolving that Cardi will be owed a further $1.5million (£1.1million) in punitive damages.

Cardi will also be awarded the full costs of her legal expenses and fees incurred by her attorneys. Altogether, Kebe – and by extension her company, Kebe Studios – will be ordered to pay Cardi a compensatory package exceeding $4million (£2.96million).In a statement issued yesterday (January 25), Kebe’s lawyer, Safeer Sabbak, said he and his client “disagree with the verdict” and “will be filing an appeal”.Cardi, on the other hand, celebrated her triumph with a statement reading: “After almost four years of repeated libel and slander against me, being able to walk away from this victorious brings me great happiness.