Damon Dash, who used to partner with Jay-Z and co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records, is in serious trouble. He’s allegedly trying to dodge paying $1 million to creditors by concealing assets, destroying evidence, and not following court orders. It seems he’s tried claiming he doesn’t own anything to escape these rulings communicated to a federal court in Manhattan.
But this week, a judge laid down the law. His hopes of getting away without payment came crashing down when it was made clear that he would face serious consequences if he didn’t comply. Judge Robert Leburger warned that failure to cooperate could lead to Dash being arrested.
One ruling Dash is reportedly trying to sidestep involves about $900,000 from a defamation case initiated by filmmaker Josh Weber, stemming from a verdict he received in 2022. Dash’s slow responses to requests for asset disclosure raised red flags.
Chris Brown, Weber’s attorney, pointed out that Dash hasn’t provided evidence related to his claimed ownership of various assets. A federal judge already criticized Dash, stating he had destroyed important evidence relevant to ongoing lawsuits.
In another case, Dash was accused of hiding funds to settle a nearly $100,000 judgment. He’s previously been ordered to pay Brooks over $300,000 in a copyright case, and there are claims he’s been concealing his assets through complicated corporate maneuvers.
Brown highlighted how ridiculous it is for Dash to feign ignorance about expensive jewelry he wears. “He says he doesn’t know who owns the necklace around his neck,” Brown remarked, pointing out that Dash sports a chain dating back to the early 2000s.
Dash’s recent attempts to file for bankruptcy appear dubious, as court records suggest he might not follow through. Even if he does, Brown emphasized that bankruptcy laws won’t allow him to simply wipe away these debts.
Moreover, Dash has been slow to respond to requests over the years, prompting discussions among his attorneys about dropping him as a client. But Judge Lehrburger expressed skepticism about whether Dash would engage properly with new legal representation.
The implications of the recent ruling are huge for Dash, who reportedly owes around $5 million in various judgments. Brown argues that a default ruling would validate claims that Dash’s company was set up to discreetly shield his assets from creditors.
“Everyone’s been saying they don’t have money,” Brown commented, implying he expects to recover other judgments now. Interestingly, he also represents Weber in a separate defamation case in California, where a judge recently awarded Weber $4 million.
Dash’s team has yet to respond to requests for comment. After all, he co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z back in 1994, which gave us iconic tracks like “Hard Knock Life,” but their financial situations have dramatically changed since then.
Last fall, the state of New York sold Dash’s share of Roc-A-Fella Records at auction for $1 million.
