Los Angeles – A Los Angeles jury is set to deliver a verdict Wednesday morning in the civil trial concerning disputed payments for renovations to a Malibu home owned by rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. The case centers around allegations made by contractor Tony Saxon, who claims he was not fully compensated for his work on the property.
Saxon alleges that Ye agreed to a deal in 2021 to pay him $20,000 per week, along with $100,000 for construction costs, but only delivered one $20,000 payment and the agreed-upon construction funds. The plaintiff’s legal team argued during closing arguments Monday that Ye owes tens of thousands in unpaid wages and overtime, and that Saxon was wrongfully terminated after sustaining a neck injury on the job. The jury reached a decision late Tuesday afternoon, with the announcement expected at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Ye’s defense countered that bank records demonstrate a payment of $240,000 to Saxon for his services. They too presented evidence suggesting Saxon did not consistently seek medical treatment for his alleged injury, showing videos of him moving without apparent difficulty as recently as last year, according to reports.
Ye’s Testimony and the Project’s Scope
During his testimony last Friday, Ye offered brief responses when questioned about his involvement with Yeezy Construction, stating he didn’t know if he was the CEO of the company. He also requested that Saxon’s attorney address him as “Ye” rather than “Mr. Ye,” a request that deviated from standard courtroom protocol. His testimony revealed a vision for the $57 million Malibu mansion designed by architect Tadao Ando, including plans to replace the stairs with a slide and transform the property into an “off-the-grid” bunker, as reported by Fox LA.
The lawsuit details claims of unsafe working conditions, alleging that Saxon was forced to sleep on the concrete floor of the unfinished mansion while acting as a security guard. Saxon further contends that he voiced concerns about dangerous practices during the renovation, including the demolition of parts of the house without proper safety equipment, but his complaints were ignored.
The Firing and Previous Sanctions
The suit alleges that Ye terminated Saxon’s employment in November 2021 after Saxon refused to comply with requests that could have put him at risk. According to the filing, Ye reportedly told Saxon, “If you don’t do what I say, you’re not going to work for me, I’m not gonna be your friend anymore and you’ll just spot me on TV.” When Saxon responded that he doesn’t watch television, Ye allegedly told him to “Leave.”
In October 2025, Judge Hammond ruled that Ye should pay Saxon $3,320 in sanctions due to a failure to comply with court-ordered discovery requests, specifically delaying the submission of verified responses to Saxon’s interrogatories, NBC Los Angeles reported. Interrogatories are written questions used in the legal discovery process, and a verified response requires a sworn statement confirming the accuracy of the information provided.
Meanwhile, Ye is scheduled to perform at SoFi Stadium on April 3, MSN reported on Monday.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for how contractors are classified and compensated in similar cases, and will likely be closely watched by those in the construction and entertainment industries. The jury’s decision will determine whether Saxon is considered a full-time employee or an unlicensed contractor, a distinction that will heavily influence the final judgment.
As the verdict approaches, the case highlights the complexities of high-profile disputes and the importance of clear contractual agreements and safe working conditions. Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts and discuss the case in the comments below.
