Damon Dash, the legendary co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, is no stranger to trouble, but this time, it's not music or business but his jewelry. A costly legal battle with director Josh Webber and Muddy Water Pictures LLC, which has been brewing for years, has taken a turn as the director requests a judge to enforce judgments against the hip-hop mogul, totaling $823,284.71. And they're turning to Dash's prized accessories to help settle the score.
According to court documents obtained exclusively by AllHipHop, Webber and his legal team are formally asking Judge Robert Lehrburger for the Southern District of New York to take action. They are seeking the corporate ownership records of several businesses, including Lebanon Improvements LLC, Ocean East Improvements LLC, 1996 Songs LLC, and Blackroc LLC. And it's not just that they want to sell his expensive jewelry at a public auction to help pay off the debt.
Exhibit A, as the legal document refers to it, features a sparkling array of Dash's signature wares. The inventory includes a gold necklace, a gold "Dame" necklace, a gold "Dusko" necklace, a gold watch, three gold rings, two Roc-A-Fella chains, and numerous sets of earrings, several of which Dash himself prominently shared on social media. Now, those very pieces may soon fall into the hands of the highest bidder.
New York law permits creditors to pursue personal property, such as stakes in a corporation or high-value assets, to satisfy money judgments. They argue that Dash's businesses and jewelry collection are ripe for acquisition because his ownership interests can be executed and liquidated legally. This isn't the first time Dash's assets have been seized, and due to his history of legal problems, it probably won't be the last.
This latest step comes in addition to a previously announced auction scheduled for November, the proceeds from which were to be distributed to creditors. Part of the funds, $193,000, was designated for child support, while more than $1.7 million was allocated to unpaid state taxes. Other creditors include the photographer Monique Bunn, who has a $12,000 claim, and Webber, who has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with Dash for years. The total state tax debt for the hip-hop entrepreneur is said to exceed a jaw-dropping $7 million, which is yet another heavyweight for an already heavy financial burden.
Dash's current legal troubles go beyond this jewelry seizure. His rocky relationship with former business partner JAY-Z has also ensured his place in the headlines. The two ex-friends have been embroiled in a separate dispute over the ownership of Reasonable Doubt, the landmark album they released in 1996 that helped put Roc-A-Fella on the map. That fight has already been a significant source of tension, and now it looks as though the stakes are simply getting higher, with Dash's financial woes on the rise.
For now, the court has everyone's attention as Dash faces the prospect of seeing his beloved chains and rings sold to the highest bidder. Is this the final chapter in his legal troubles, or another turn in a never-ending saga? Either way, Dame's signature bling may soon have a new owner.
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