T.I. & Tiny Defamation Trial Delayed

Last month Sabrina Peterson was held in contempt of court after failing to pay nearly $100k in legal fees to rapper T.I. and his wife, Xscape singer Tiny Harris, after most of her defamation claims against them were tossed out [click here if you missed that]. 

Now the case is on hold until she pays up...

From Rolling Stone

A judge sided with T.I. and Tiny in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday, delaying a defamation trial against the couple that was set to begin next week and ruling there was good cause to drag their accuser into court for a contempt hearing.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Shultz said he would sign an order “charging” Sabrina Peterson with contempt for not forking over the $96,702 in attorneys’ fees she was ordered to pay T.I. and Tiny after an appeals court struck down five of the seven causes of action in Peterson’s lawsuit filed back in March 2021. The judge then warned that if Peterson fails to show up at the March 6 hearing, she could face jail time.

“If she doesn’t appear, the presumption is I’m going to issue a warrant for her arrest,” Judge Shutlz said from the bench. The judge then ruled the jury trial for Peterson’s remaining claims of defamation and invasion of privacy would be pushed out to June. The trial was supposed to start next Tuesday, Dec. 10.

“It’s our position that there shouldn’t be a trial until they comply with the court’s orders,” T.I. and Tiny’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, told the court. “We’re interested in hearing Ms. Peterson’s reasons for not complying with the court’s order. I assume we’ll hear that at the [contempt] hearing.”

“This has been a very long and very emotionally, mentally, and financially taxing road. I’m heartbroken I’m not able to go to court in five days, but I’m happy it’s moving forward,” Peterson told Rolling Stone after the hearing. “I’m looking forward to my day in court. I’m excited for justice to be served.”