Back in April, a judge awarded Soulja Boy's ex-girlfriend Kayla Myers $235,900 in punitive damages in their civil case. For those unaware, Myers sued the rapper for alleged assault and kidnapping at a 2019 party at his home in Malibu, and emerged victorious when the case went to jury. Moreover, Soulja's team sought a new trial after this development, pointing to jury misconduct as a crucial reason to reevaluate the trial. Apparently, these wishes might see some fulfillment according to a recent report from MyNewsLA on the legal matter. Furthermore, Judge Mark Epstein of California expressed concern on Thursday (June 29) that jurors lacked important evidence and information in the case.

In particular, this evidence and information refers to Soulja Boy's financial affairs, such as income, saving, expenses, and debt. In fact, Epstein stated that Myers did not present any evidence of these factors in her initial suit, and that the lack such information should've halted the case from proceeding. "The court is concerned that, absent at least some evidence on this point, the issue should never have gone to the jury,” a judicial clerk wrote according to the outlet's report. The court scheduled a hearing for July 21 to discuss the issue.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 25: Soulja Boy (C) performs onstage during the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

Nevertheless, until that hearing comes to a conclusion, Myers still won her lawsuit and can stand by that verdict. The jury in this case granted punitive damages for "physical and mental pain and suffering," with additional funds for healthcare expenses. "We’re pleased with the jury’s verdict," prosecutor Max Engelhardt remarked at the time. “[Soulja Boy] assaulted and terrorized Kayla, and that was borne out by the evidence and testimony. The punitive damages were substantial, and hopefully, they will serve as a lesson to Mr. Way that his celebrity status is not a license to commit violence."

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old is still up to his usual antics online, even amid these pressing legal matters. For example, he recently participated in a hilarious livestream with TikTok star Terri Joe where she made some bold claims about their... interactions. We have to wait a few weeks to see where this case lands, but we're sure that he will keep being himself in the meantime. On that note, check back in with HNHH for the latest news and more updates on Soulja Boy.

About The Author

Gabriel Bras Nevares is a music and pop culture news writer for HotNewHipHop. He started in 2022 as a weekend writer and, since joining the team full-time, has developed a strong knowledge in hip-hop news and releases. Whether it’s regular coverage or occasional interviews and album reviews, he continues to search for the most relevant news for his audience and find the best new releases in the genre. What excites him the most is finding pop culture stories of interest, as well as a deeper passion for the art form of hip-hop and its contemporary output. Specifically, Gabriel enjoys the fringes of rap music: the experimental, boundary-pushing, and raw alternatives to the mainstream sound. As a proud native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, he also stays up-to-date with the archipelago’s local scene and its biggest musical exponents in reggaetón, salsa, indie, and beyond. Before working at HotNewHipHop, Gabriel produced multiple short documentaries, artist interviews, venue spotlights, and audio podcasts on a variety of genres and musical figures. Hardcore punk and Go-go music defined much of his coverage during his time at the George Washington University in D.C. His favorite hip-hop artists working today are Tyler, The Creator, Boldy James, JPEGMAFIA, and Earl Sweatshirt.

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