Lil Wayne Claims Victory In $20M Lawsuit Involving Former Manager

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Lil Wayne was hit with a hefty lawsuit in December 2020 when his former manager/lawyer, Ronald Sweeney, and Avant Garde Management company sued him for over $20 million in unpaid commissions.

Sweeney’s lawsuit claimed Wayne failed to keep a number of financial agreements, including paying him a 10-percent share of music-related lawsuit settlements, 10 percent of the sale of Wayne’s master recordings, plus 17 percent in general commissions relating to day-to-day management duties.

Ronald Sweeney began working with Lil Wayne in 2005 and helped him renegotiate his contract with Cash Money Records, securing the return of his publishing and touring rights from the label. He characterized his role as Wayne’s “personal manager” alongside longtime “day-to-day manager” Cortez Bryant.

Earlier this month, it was reported Lil Wayne skipped out on a deposition for the lawsuit on August 24 and failed to provide dates for when he is available to give one. But the NOLA native doesn’t have to worry about that any longer.

According to Pitchfork, a judge in a California federal court threw out the lawsuit in agreement with a motion to dismiss the case filed by Lil Wayne’s attorney.

The judge ruled the case should not be litigated in California due to Wayne’s more permanent residence in Florida, as well as Sweeney’s operations in New York. The ruling without prejudice leaves the door open for another filing.

Following the initial lawsuit last December, Lil Wayne countersued Ronald Sweeney, claiming he only worked as his attorney (never his manager) and overcharged him in fees for years. The outcome of Wayne’s countersuit remains to be seen.

Lil Wayne has more reason to celebrate after making another dent on the Billboard charts this week. “Feelin’ Like Tunechi,” the lead single from his Trust Fund Babies album with Rich The Kid, debuted at No. 91 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, his blockbuster 2008 album Tha Carter III re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 188.

Weezy F. Baby is compiling some of the greatest songs from his iconic Tha Carter series into a special edition 7-inch vinyl boxset, dropping November 12. The collection includes hits such as “A Milli,” “Go DJ” and “Hustler Musik,” as well as the recently-unearthed “Ya Dig.”