Kanye West seeks judgment in his favor in assault, battery lawsuit

LOS ANGELES – Ye is seeking judgment in his favor in a lawsuit brought by an autograph dealer who alleges the rapper formerly known as Kanye West punched him after he asked for an autograph near the Soho Warehouse social club in an industrial area of Los Angeles in 2022.

The plaintiffs in the Los Angeles Superior Court case are Justin Poplawski and his wife, Tiffany Marshall. Their suit alleges that Ye blamed his divorce from Kim Kardashian for his foul mood. Poplawski alleges assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence, while Marshall contends she suffered a loss of consortium.

The lawsuit alleges that Ye blamed his divorce from Kim Kardashian for his foul mood. FILE PHOTO

But in court papers filed Thursday with Judge Theresa Traber, Ye’s attorney cites multiple defenses on behalf of his client, including that the singer “was justified in doing any and/or all of the acts alleged in the complaint” and that the entertainer “acted in defense of himself and/or others.”

Ye’s lawyer also maintains that the plaintiffs are not entitled to punitive damages.

According to the suit, Poplawski had previously obtained Ye’s autograph without a problem. The plaintiff was standing on a sidewalk near the Soho Warehouse on South Santa Fe Avenue on Jan. 13, 2022, when Ye saw him, said he was going to make an example of him and referred to his divorce from Kardashian, the suit claims.

Ye struck Poplawski, who asked for an apology, the suit states. Ye allegedly replied, “Apology for what?” and struck the plaintiff additional times, severely injuring him, according to the suit, which was filed Jan. 10.

Ye, now 46, then began shouting at the singer’s own companions, one of whom told the rapper to stop hitting Poplawski, the suits states. (CNS)