Dame Dash, the co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, is facing another legal battle with photographer Monique Bunn, who claims he cost her nearly $400 million by withholding and misusing her photos.
Bunn has filed a motion to reopen her case against Dash, alleging that the jury did not properly assess the value of her work and the damages she suffered.
Bunn first sued Dash in 2019, accusing him of sexual battery and breach of contract. She alleged that Dash touched her inappropriately while she was sleeping at his house, where she was hired to do a photo shoot for his fashion company, Poppington.
She also claimed in the suit obtained by HipHop DX that Dame Dash refused to pay her for the photos she took and used them for his own purposes without her consent.
In February 2023, a jury cleared Dame Dash of the sexual battery charge, but found him liable for the breach of contract.
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However, the jury awarded Bunn zero dollars in damages, despite her testimony that each photo was worth $1,500 and that she had taken over 250,000 photos for Dash. Bunn argued that Dash’s actions destroyed her career and reputation as a professional photographer.
In her new motion, Bunn contends that the jury verdict was “against the weight of the evidence” and that a new trial is warranted.
She cites Dash’s own admission that he did not pay her properly and that he knew the value of her photos. She also points out that Dash and his co-defendants testified that the damages were in the millions.
Bunn seeks at least $384,750,000 in compensation for her photos, as well as punitive damages and attorney fees.
Dame Dash’s legal troubles
This is not the only legal trouble that Dash is facing. Earlier this month, a judge ordered him to sell his remaining shares in Roc-A-Fella Records to satisfy a debt of $823,000 that he owed to film producer Josh Webber. Webber sued Dash in 2022 for copyright infringement, alleging that Dash tried to sell his movie, Dear Frank, under a different name to multiple companies.
Dash has been vocal about his disputes with his former partners, Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, over the ownership and management of Roc-A-Fella Records. He has also been involved in several other lawsuits and controversies over the years, including a divorce, child support, and tax issues.