AceShowbiz - Kanye West has been ordered by a court to pay $140,000 to his former contractor, Tony Saxon, following a legal dispute over renovations at West’s Malibu mansion. In addition to the payment, West will also be responsible for covering Saxon’s attorney fees, which reportedly exceed $1 million.

The lawsuit emerged from a contentious project where West aimed to renovate a Malibu Beach mansion originally designed by architect Tadao Ando. Saxon was hired to oversee the renovation but claims he was dismissed after opposing what he described as "dangerous" requests by West. According to court documents, West wanted to transform the $57 million property into an "off-the-grid" dwelling, eliminating basic features like electricity, toilets, and windows.

Ronald Zambrano, employment chair of West Coast Trial Lawyers and attorney for Saxon, characterized the ruling as a "mixed verdict" since Saxon sought $1.7 million but was awarded significantly less. Zambrano praised the decision as a vindication for Saxon, highlighting the intense scrutiny the contractor faced during the trial. He stated that West's legal team accused Saxon of dishonesty and fraud, and that Saxon’s personal and medical records were harshly examined and disparaged in court.

Further tensions arose outside the courtroom, with West's representative Milo Yiannopoulos publicly criticizing Saxon and his legal firm. Zambrano also revealed that West's team demanded a public apology and payment from Saxon to settle the case, which Saxon refused. During the dispute, West allegedly threatened Saxon by saying, "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 see me on TV." Saxon reportedly responded, "I don't watch TV," to which West replied, "Leave."

The ruling confirms that despite the dramatic nature of the lawsuit and the high-profile parties involved, West is financially liable for a portion of the contractor’s claims related to the controversial Malibu mansion renovation.