Kanye West, also known as Ye, is facing a new legal battle as former project manager Tony Saxon has reportedly filed a fresh lawsuit tied to a disputed $1.8 million mechanics lien on West’s gutted Malibu oceanfront mansion, a property already mired in foreclosure threats and financial drama, according to court filings and multiple reports.[1][2]
According to the Los Angeles Times, Saxon previously worked as West’s project manager, security guard, and caretaker on the Malibu home, which Ye bought for approximately $57.3 million in 2021 before radically stripping it down by removing windows, doors, plumbing, and electrical systems.[1][2] Saxon initially sued West in September 2023 in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging labor violations, nonpayment for services, and disability discrimination.[1][2][5] In January 2024, he allegedly filed a $1.8 million mechanics lien against the property to secure payment for project management and construction-related work tied to the controversial renovation.[1][2][3]
A mechanics lien, often used by contractors and laborers, can effectively block a sale and, if unpaid, can lead to foreclosure proceedings on a property.[1][3] AllHipHop reports that the lien was recorded after West listed the Malibu mansion for sale in late 2023, prompting Saxon’s legal team to publicly state that any prospective buyer would “have to deal with” them before a sale could go through, an assertion that put additional pressure on an already troubled asset.[1][2][3] The Malibu home, designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando, has reportedly been caught up in foreclosure threats and price cuts under its current owner, continuing a streak of financial setbacks tied to the address.[1][2]
In response, West has already sued Saxon and his attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers, arguing in a separate case that the lien is “invalid” and part of an alleged “aggressive publicity campaign” meant to interfere with his ability to sell or finance the property.[1][2][3] The Los Angeles Times notes that a Los Angeles Superior Court judge previously granted West’s motion to release the lien from a bond and awarded him attorney’s fees, though Saxon’s team is reportedly continuing to pursue its underlying claims for unpaid work.[1][2][3]
The latest lawsuit from Saxon adds another chapter to the long-running saga surrounding Kanye West’s Malibu mansion, a project that turned from an ambitious architectural statement into an expensive legal and financial quagmire. For hip-hop and business observers, the case underscores how West’s real estate and creative experiments can spill into protracted courtroom battles, with millions of dollars and his already-polarizing public image on the line as the Malibu mansion dispute continues to unfold.[1][2]
