A Los Angeles judge is poised to authorize the sale of Nicki Minaj’s $20 million Hidden Hills property as a former security guard seeks to collect on a more than year-old judgment of $503,318 against the rapper and her husband, Kenneth Petty. This development highlights a significant escalation in a convoluted legal dispute that commenced following a backstage incident during a concert in Germany in 2019.
The Legal Proceedings Unfold
In a recent hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Cindy Pánuco indicated her intent to permit the sale of Minaj’s mansion, noting that the application to do so “looked good” barring a missing Bank of America statement pertaining to the mortgage payments. The judge stated that once this documentation is submitted, she would finalize her ruling. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for January 22, positioning the case just a step away from listing the eight-bedroom property on the market.
This turn of events stems from Minaj and Petty’s refusal to settle the $503,318 judgment awarded to Thomas Weidenmüller, a security guard who sustained severe injuries during the 2019 concert incident. After multiple attempts to collect the owed amount went unanswered, Weidenmüller sought the court’s intervention to enforce the judgment by requesting the forced sale of Minaj’s estate. Judge Pánuco’s recent remarks suggest that such an outcome is likely.
The Origins of the Dispute
The legal battle traces back to March 2019 during a performance in Frankfurt, Germany. A fan’s intrusion onto the stage reportedly incited a furious response from Minaj, who subsequently reprimanded a female security staff member. Thomas Weidenmüller, the head of security that evening, attempted to de-escalate the situation.
According to the lawsuit, Minaj’s anger shifted towards Weidenmüller, culminating in a heated exchange and an alleged physical assault by Petty, who purportedly punched Weidenmüller, causing a fractured jaw. Weidenmüller has described his medical journey as arduous, requiring multiple surgical procedures and an extended hospital stay, leading him to initially demand over $700,000 in damages for pain and suffering.
Failure to Respond to the Lawsuit
Weidenmüller filed the lawsuit against Minaj and Petty in January 2022, but the couple did not respond despite numerous attempts to reach them. After those efforts failed, the court ultimately published a summons in a newspaper. Due to their lack of response, a default judgment was rendered in March 2024, which awarded Weidenmüller $503,318 — a reduced amount from his original demand. Court filings show that no payments have been made in the 20 months since the judgment was issued.
Efforts to garnish funds from seven potential sources yielded no results, leading Weidenmüller to request the court’s enforcement of the judgment through the sale of Minaj’s home.
Details of the Hidden Hills Mansion
Minaj acquired her 11,820-square-foot residence in Hidden Hills for $19.5 million in December 2022. The property was recently appraised at $20 million and is secured by a $13,258,000 mortgage. With the homestead exemption factored in, it has an equity valuation of roughly $6 million. Weidenmüller’s legal team argues that California law supports a creditor’s right to request a home sale without exhausting alternative collection methods.
Judge Pánuco expressed her readiness to authorize the sale pending the outstanding mortgage-related document. Notably, she raised a concern about the possibility of a lower sale price at auction, indicating the importance of having thorough documentation to guide her decision.
Implications of the Potential Sale
At a recent hearing, Judge Pánuco conveyed her inclination to approve the sale, stating that her current priority is ensuring all criteria are met. If the sale is granted, the mansion could be auctioned, with proceeds first allocated to cover the mortgage, followed by the judgment, with any remaining funds returned to Minaj.
This situation is unusual for a high-value celebrity residence to be at risk over a judgment that, while significant, might be considered relatively modest compared to Minaj’s financial standing. Weidenmüller’s attorneys emphasize that Minaj has the financial means to settle but has opted against doing so.
Conclusion
The future of Minaj’s mansion hangs in the balance, contingent on a single document and the judge’s upcoming ruling in January. With the judge’s expressed intent to approve the sale, Minaj’s asset could soon be liquidated to satisfy a debt stemming from a case that began nearly six years ago with a single altercation backstage.
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