A Los Angeles jury has ruled that Grammy award-winning rapper Cardi B is not liable in a civil assault case brought by former security guard Emani Ellis. The verdict, reached in less than an hour of deliberations, means Cardi B will not be required to pay damages.

Ellis filed the lawsuit over a 2018 incident at a Beverly Hills medical office where she worked, alleging that Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, struck her, scratched her face with long fingernails, and spat on her. Ellis claimed the incident left her with facial injuries requiring plastic surgery, and she sought damages for medical expenses, emotional and physical suffering, lost wages, and punitive compensation. Cardi testified that she was pregnant at the time, entering the obstetrician’s office in secret, and said the confrontation did not involve physical assault. She accused Ellis of recording her without consent and insisted she never laid hands on her.

During testimony that gained wide attention online, Cardi acknowledged she was angry during the encounter. “Yes, I was angry! Because I’m pregnant! And this girl’s about to beat my a**!” she told the court. Ellis, who lost her job following the incident, did not state a precise amount in her lawsuit, but Cardi said on the stand that the guard was seeking twenty-four million dollars. Ellis’s attorney asked the jury to award her hundreds of thousands of dollars, while Cardi’s legal team pointed to inconsistencies in Ellis’s account and urged jurors to “use common sense.”

Following the verdict, Cardi expressed relief and gratitude toward her lawyers, the jury, and the judge. Outside the courtroom she vowed to countersue if faced with what she called future “frivolous lawsuits.” She also asked her supporters not to harass or attack Ellis online. “You don’t work hard for your money to just give it away,” Cardi told reporters. “Don’t ever think I’m just going to give you money I worked hard for.”

Ellis, speaking after the decision, said she was not disappointed and intended to appeal. “It’s about accountability,” she remarked. “I had my day in court. I showed up, she had to look me in the eye, I had to look her in the eye, and we did our best.” She also revealed plans to pursue a future career in law.

The trial saw tense moments both inside and outside court. Ellis’s attorney criticized Cardi’s profanity in testimony as disrespectful to the court, while Cardi’s counsel argued it was part of describing the incident. Later, outside the courthouse, Cardi tossed a pen at a man who asked a question about her personal life that she considered disrespectful. “Why do you feel, as a man, you get to ask me those type of questions? Act like you have some manners,” she said.

The jury’s decision closes a high-profile civil case that attracted national media attention, affirming Cardi B’s position that she did not commit the assault alleged against her.