Tory Lanez, currently incarcerated, is attempting to limit his involvement in a separate legal case. The artist has requested a protective order to reduce his participation in Megan Thee Stallion's defamation lawsuit against blogger Milagro Gramz. This move aims to prevent further deposition testimony from Lanez, citing potential burdens and risks to his ongoing criminal appeal.
Key Takeaways
- Tory Lanez filed a protective order in Megan Thee Stallion's defamation suit against Milagro Gramz.
- The order seeks to prevent further deposition testimony from Lanez.
- Lanez's legal team cited undue burden, prejudice to his criminal appeal, and constitutional risks.
- Megan Thee Stallion is suing Gramz for allegedly spreading false information about the shooting incident.
- This request follows a previous court order for Lanez to attend another deposition.
Lanez Files Motion to Limit Involvement
On Wednesday, September 24, Tory Lanez's legal representatives submitted a motion for a protective order. This filing urges the court to restrict his role in the defamation lawsuit. Megan Thee Stallion initiated this civil action in California court against blogger Milagro Gramz. The lawsuit claims Gramz disseminated false information related to the shooting incident involving Lanez.
The motion states that Daystar Peterson, known as Tory Lanez, is an incarcerated non-party in the case. His legal team argues that compelling him to provide additional deposition testimony would create an undue burden. They also highlighted potential prejudice to his ongoing criminal appeal and constitutional risks.
"Daystar Peterson ('Mr. Peterson'), by counsel, respectfully moves for a Protective Order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c). Mr. Peterson, an an incarcerated non-party in Pete v. Cooper, No. 1:24-cv-24228 (S.D. Fla.), faces undue burden, prejudice to his ongoing criminal appeal, and constitutional risks if compelled to provide further deposition testimony. Relief is warranted to ensure compliance with the Federal Rules, to protect non-parties, and to safeguard Mr. Peterson’s rights."
This legal maneuver is part of Lanez's broader effort to manage his legal challenges. He was convicted for shooting Megan Thee Stallion and continues to seek to overturn that conviction.
Legal Fact
A protective order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c) allows a court to protect a party or person from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense during discovery.
Arguments for Restricting Discovery
The legal document further detailed the reasons for the protective order request. Lanez's team asked the court to bar improper non-party deposition or, alternatively, to limit discovery. They emphasized that any discovery should be consistent with Federal Rules, Ninth Circuit precedent, and constitutional protections.
This request highlights the complexities of legal proceedings when a party is also involved in other significant cases, such as a criminal appeal. The defense aims to prevent the defamation lawsuit from negatively impacting Lanez's separate appeals process.
The filing also referenced the depositions of DJ Akademiks and Caesar McDowell. Lanez's legal team suggested that their client did not receive the same treatment during his depositions as these individuals. This implies a perceived imbalance or unfairness in the discovery process directed at Lanez.
The court's decision on this motion will be an important development. It will determine the extent of Lanez's required participation in the defamation lawsuit. The outcome could set a precedent for how non-parties with ongoing criminal appeals are treated in civil discovery.
Background of Megan Thee Stallion's Lawsuit
Megan Thee Stallion's defamation lawsuit against Milagro Gramz stems from allegations of spreading false information. The Houston artist claims that Gramz made untrue statements about the 2020 shooting incident involving Tory Lanez. Such lawsuits aim to address damage to reputation caused by false public statements.
Defamation Law
Defamation is a false statement presented as fact that causes damage or injury to the character or reputation of the person it is about. Written defamation is called libel, and spoken defamation is called slander.
Other individuals have also faced deposition requests in this case. DJ Akademiks, for example, was asked to provide a deposition. He was also reportedly asked to disclose the source of a DNA leak related to the case. Adin Ross also attempted to avoid a deposition from Megan's legal team. However, these efforts have generally not been successful.
In August, the court ordered Tory Lanez to attend another deposition. This order came after reports of a challenging first attempt. During that initial deposition, Lanez reportedly showed disrespect towards Thee Stallion's legal team. He also allegedly refused to cooperate properly during the discussion.
The debates surrounding Tory Lanez's conviction for the shooting incident continue. The defamation lawsuit adds another layer to the complex legal landscape involving all parties. The trajectory of this civil suit and the judge's ruling on the protective order remain key points of interest.
Impact on Ongoing Appeal
Lanez's legal team's focus on protecting his criminal appeal is a crucial aspect of this motion. Any testimony given in the civil defamation case could potentially be used in his criminal appeal. This highlights the interlinked nature of different legal proceedings.
- Criminal Appeal: Lanez is appealing his conviction for the shooting.
- Defamation Lawsuit: Megan Thee Stallion is suing Milagro Gramz for spreading falsehoods.
- Protective Order: Lanez seeks to limit his involvement in the defamation suit to protect his appeal.
The legal strategy emphasizes the need to safeguard Lanez's rights as a non-party in the defamation case. It also underscores the potential for civil discovery to create additional burdens or complications for someone already involved in a criminal appeal.
The court will weigh the need for discovery in the defamation suit against the potential harm to Lanez's other legal matters. This decision could have significant implications for how high-profile individuals navigate multiple legal battles simultaneously.
The legal community will watch closely to see how the judge rules on this protective order. It will be a test of how courts balance competing legal interests and protect the rights of individuals facing complex legal challenges. The outcome will affect not only the individuals involved but also the broader legal precedents regarding discovery in multi-faceted cases.