Lawyers for the rappers call the demand “harassing, oppressive, and burdensome.”
Lawyers for Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube are fighting hard to avoid having the hip-hop moguls deposed in a $1.3 million fraud lawsuit.
Newly released court documents show that in August, both rappers petitioned a judge to avoid the rap legends appearing for an October deposition tied to a lawsuit filed by Westside Merchandise, Us Weekly reports. The apparel company is seeking the return of $1.37 million it claims to have advanced to the defendants.
Westside Merchandise said Snoop and Cube directed the company to handle the matter with its associate, Tony Draper. Westside Merchandise refuses to do so until both artists sit for depositions.
Lawyers for the rappers say that demand is “harassing, oppressive, and burdensome,” especially for “high-profile individuals who keep busy schedules with firm commitments.” In addition, the push for depositions is a “clear tactic” to force Snoop and Cube into a settlement. At the time of filing, Ice Cube was managing his Big3 basketball league and preparing for his current tour. Snoop was filming a movie.
The company further claims Snoop and Cube failed to create the agreed-to promotional videos required to market the merchandise. Westside is seeking the return of its $1.375 million advance and punitive damages, alleging that the defendants have refused to repay the funds.
“The defendants have no real legal defenses to the case, and their strategy has been simply to delay the inevitable,” said John Fowler, an attorney for Westside Merchandise. “Defendant Too Short has publicly stated that they were just ‘too rich and busy’ to focus on Mount Westmore, which is obviously not a legitimate defense in a court of law. We look forward to trying this case.”
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Source: Black Enterprise
