The verdict was delivered on March 11, 2026, in the Los Angeles Superior Court, following a civil trial in which Tony Saxon, the plaintiff, claimed that West did not pay him the agreed‑upon compensation and unjustly fired him during the renovation of the $57 million property. Saxon had originally sought $1.7 million in damages for unpaid wages, medical costs, and other claims, but the jury awarded a much smaller amount.
According to court testimony, Saxon was hired in 2021 to act as a project manager and handyman for the extensive remodel of the Malibu house. He alleged that he was promised $20,000 per week for his work but received only one weekly payment and approximately $100,000 for construction costs despite continuing to work on the project for several weeks. Saxon also claimed he endured unsafe working conditions, was forced to sleep on the floor of the home, and sustained neck and back injuries while on the job.
During the trial, Saxon’s lawyers argued that he was not fully compensated for his work, was fired after raising safety concerns, and suffered injury without proper protection. They described challenging conditions at the job site and maintained that Saxon was unjustly terminated.
West’s legal team, however, contested many of Saxon’s claims. They argued that Saxon was an unlicensed contractor and not a full employee and that financial records showed he had received about $240,000 for his work. West’s attorneys also denied that the conditions described by Saxon warranted the larger damages sought.
In delivering a mixed verdict, the jury found West liable for certain claims related to injury but rejected most of the more serious allegations, such as wrongful termination and unpaid wages. As a result, Saxon was awarded $140,000 specifically for medical expenses and injury‑related compensation, significantly less than the amount he had originally requested.
In addition to the $140,000 award, West may also be required to pay Saxon’s attorney fees and court costs, which could push the total financial responsibility above $1 million, according to statements from Saxon’s legal team.
Leave a Reply