Jay-Z has taken legal action to ensure a substantial financial judgment against him remains enforceable, filing documents in the bankruptcy case of Lillie Coley, the grandmother of a man who has long asserted he is the rapper's biological son.
Court documents obtained by TMZ.com reveal that the music mogul is requesting that $119,000 owed to him by Coley not be eliminated through her bankruptcy proceedings. The debt stems from a previous court ruling in Jay-Z's favor.
The rapper's legal team argues the financial obligation cannot be discharged because a judge determined it resulted from fraudulent conduct. According to the filing, the court awarded the sum due to what it characterized as fraudulent statements and misrepresentations intended to harass and target the entertainer.
Jay-Z's attorney contends that Coley has engaged in a decade-long campaign of harassment through numerous unfounded court filings, online harassment campaigns, and public statements directed at the musician.
The legal dispute centers on claims made by Coley's grandson, Rymir Satterthwaite, who has maintained for years that Jay-Z is his father. The rapper has consistently contested these assertions through the court system.
In his legal filing, Jay-Z asserts he has incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees defending himself against actions brought by Coley and Satterthwaite. The musician notes that every lawsuit filed against him by Coley has been dismissed by the courts.
Despite these dismissals, Jay-Z's legal team maintains the pattern of harassment has persisted, prompting the current effort to prevent the debt from being erased through bankruptcy protection.
Coley has responded by requesting the court dismiss Jay-Z's petition, arguing he has failed to satisfy various procedural requirements. The bankruptcy case remains pending before the court.
Satterthwaite's paternity claim is based on allegations that his mother, Wanda, had a relationship with Jay-Z that resulted in his birth. Wanda is now deceased.