Kanye West and the Yeezy brand were ordered to compensate producer Catelyn Mooney more than 300,000 dollars after failing to appear in court. The ruling came from Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Gerald Lebowitz, who found in Mooney’s favor because neither West nor Yeezy’s legal team responded to the court documents.
The lawsuit, filed in December, alleged that West and Yeezy owed Mooney over 300,000 dollars in damages and unpaid fees tied to a September photo shoot they organized for him.
Court records indicate that Mooney was hired by West as an independent contractor to lead Yeezy’s SHDZ sunglasses project, with a contracted value of 110,000 dollars.
According to Mooney, he received only 15,000 dollars from Yeezy and had attempted to settle the dispute amicably before seeking a formal judgment.
The complaint states that Yeezy had to incur large loans due to delayed payments, forcing Mooney to rely on credit cards to cover rent and other essential expenses.
Mooney was awarded a baseline 110,000 dollars for original work, an additional 110,000 dollars for non payment by Yeezy and a violation of the Self Employed Are Not Free Act FIFA, and 95,000 dollars for contract breach and wrongful enrichment claims. The judge’s decision reflects a multifaceted compensation structure tied to both work performed and financial harm suffered.
Earlier reporting from socialbites.ca noted broader moves in the fashion world, including Donatella Versace and Dua Lipa launching a joint Versace collection, illustrating ongoing shifts in collaborations within the industry.
Attribution: The details summarized here draw on coverage from WWD and related industry reporting to reflect the case’s outcomes and context.