Nelly just collected $67,586 from his legal team’s work defending himself against what a federal judge called a completely baseless copyright claim.
U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero ruled on May 28 that the rapper’s attorneys deserved reasonable compensation for their time fighting off the frivolous lawsuit filed by former St. Lunatics member Ali Jones.
The whole situation traces back to September 2024, when Ali sued, claiming he’d been cut out of royalties and credits on Nelly’s 2000 breakthrough album Country Grammar.
Three other St. Lunatics members initially joined the suit but quickly bailed, saying they never authorized it.
Ali pressed forward alone, demanding $50 million and alleging Nelly had manipulated the group about compensation. The case went nowhere legally because the claims were time-barred, meaning they should’ve been filed years earlier.
Ali’s legal team, led by attorney Precious Felder, fought hard against paying Nelly’s fees.
They argued the billing records were vague, included clerical work, and showed excessive hours. Judge Marrero wasn’t buying it.
He found the hourly rates reasonable: Kenneth Freundlich at $725 per hour, Jonah Grossbardt at $575 per hour, and Hugh Rosenberg at $375 per hour.
The judge trimmed the original request from $84,482.50 down to $67,586 by cutting 20 percent of the hours, half from vague entries and half from administrative tasks.
What makes this ruling significant is that it reinforces the principle that judges won’t tolerate lawyers dragging defendants through meritless cases.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger had already recommended sanctions, finding that Felder “vexatiously protracted the proceedings in bad faith” and “doubled down” after being told the case had no legal standing.
The court rejected claims that Nelly’s team overstaffed the case, finding it reasonable for multiple lawyers with varying levels of experience to handle filings and motions.
The breakdown shows Freundlich Law getting $12,006, Grossbardt receiving $45,080, and Rosenberg collecting $10,500.
Nelly’s required to certify in writing upon receipt of payments.