Kanye West has launched a new lawsuit, alleging that a former employee and his lawyers improperly used the rapper’s former Malibu, California home as leverage in an ongoing legal battle.
Court filings submitted Thursday (Jan. 8) in Los Angeles Superior Court show Ye and his real estate company, Shore Drive Holdings, LLC, suing Anthony Saxon Netelkos — also known as Tony Saxon — along with Saxon’s attorneys and the law firm West Coast Trial Lawyers.
The suit claims Saxon and his legal team “wrongfully” recorded and kept an invalid $1.8 million mechanic’s lien on the Malibu property.
According to the complaint, Ye argues the lien wasn’t merely a legal move tied to unpaid work claims, but part of a wider effort to publicly pressure him.
The filing alleges Saxon and his attorneys carried out what it describes as an “aggressive publicity campaign” aimed at discouraging potential deals and forcing payment on claims Ye says were already being addressed in a separate lawsuit.
Saxon previously sued Ye in September 2023, accusing him of labor violations and failure to pay for services connected to the Malibu home — allegations Ye has denied.
Ye’s new lawsuit states that after he put the Malibu property up for sale in December 2023, Saxon and his lawyers filed a mechanic’s lien on Jan. 10, 2024, demanding $1,819,986 for alleged construction and demolition work.
A mechanic’s lien is typically used by contractors or workers who claim they weren’t paid, and it can delay or block a property sale if left unresolved.
The complaint also references statements allegedly made by Saxon’s attorney, Ronald Zambrano, suggesting that any potential buyer would need to deal with Saxon’s side before a sale could move forward. Ye contends those comments were meant to create public pressure and falsely implied Saxon had the power to interfere with transactions or divert sale proceeds.
Ye further alleges Saxon echoed similar claims online that same day, reportedly stating that money from the home’s sale would have to go toward paying him.
In the lawsuit, Ye says Saxon and his legal team failed to take the required legal steps to enforce the lien within the mandated timeframe, causing it to expire under the law. The filing notes that Ye obtained a lien release bond to clear the property title and move ahead with a transaction.
Ye also points to prior court victories, stating that a judge approved his request to release the lien from the bond on July 1, 2025, and later awarded him attorney’s fees on Oct. 2, 2025.
Now, Ye is pursuing claims that include slander of title, interference with economic advantage, abuse of process, and unfair competition, and he is requesting a jury trial.
