AceShowbiz - Cardi B is set to recover almost $20,000 in trial expenses following a decisive legal victory against security guard Emani Ellis, who had filed an assault claim against the rapper. This ruling comes six months after the jury unanimously sided with Cardi B, dismissing the allegations entirely.

The financial reimbursement was confirmed by the judge presiding over the case on Thursday, who deemed the costs related to the trial both timely and necessary. These expenses include deposition fees, court reporter charges, and photocopying costs amounting to $19,690.

Ellis, represented by attorney Ron A. Rosen Janfaza, had contested the reimbursement in court. The security guard's legal team argued that the claim for costs was filed too late and labeled the submitted bill as "a sham." However, the judge rejected these objections, siding with Cardi B's legal team and authorizing the payment.

After the hearing, Janfaza expressed resignation to the ruling, stating, "My client doesn't want me to submit, but we're going to just let it be." The court's decision fully adopted the judge's tentative ruling from earlier that morning, affirming the legitimacy and reasonableness of the requested amount.

Previously, in November, Ellis and her lawyer had filed court papers opposing the trial cost reimbursement. They accused Cardi B, born Belcalis Almánzar, of proceeding in bad faith and argued that she should not be rewarded for what they claimed was improper conduct. In response, Cardi B's attorneys denied these accusations, calling them "meritless if not patently frivolous," a position the judge agreed with.

This latest ruling adds to a series of legal successes for Cardi B in this civil case. At the trial, which attracted significant public attention, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in her favor in just over an hour. Following the verdict, Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman denied Ellis' motion for a new trial in December.

In January, Judge Fusselman also imposed a $1,500 fine on Janfaza for violating a pretrial order during the trial. The sanction stemmed from Janfaza's improper questioning of Cardi B regarding alleged "gang affiliation," a topic the judge had ruled irrelevant and prejudicial to Ellis' claim that the rapper scratched her face in a 2018 confrontation.

During the trial, Cardi B testified emphatically that no physical contact occurred during the February 2018 incident outside a Beverly Hills medical office. The dispute reportedly began when Cardi B believed Ellis was filming her while she was pregnant and visiting a doctor.

Cardi B described the encounter as a verbal confrontation only. Her account was supported by defense witnesses, including the obstetrician and a receptionist, both of whom testified that Ellis appeared to act aggressively during the incident.

Judge Fusselman characterized Janfaza’s pretrial order violation as "knowing and intentional," rejecting the lawyer's explanation that he was sleep-deprived. He ordered Janfaza to pay the fine within 30 days and report the sanction to the State Bar to avoid further collection efforts.

The court’s firm rulings and the jury's swift decision reflect the strength of Cardi B's defense and undermine the assault claims made by Ellis. With this latest judgment, Cardi B will be compensated for her legal expenses, bringing further closure to this high-profile dispute.