Judge orders Tyga’s arrest after rapper fails to appear for lawsuit hearing

A Los Angeles County judge issued a warrant Tuesday morning for the arrest of rapper Tyga after he failed to show up at a Santa Monica courtroom for a hearing in a lawsuit brought by his former landlord.

Tyga was scheduled to be questioned under oath about his financial affairs and assets because he has yet to pay a more than $480,000 judgment to his former landlord at a Malibu home, according to lawyer Danny Abir. The attorney’s firm, Abir, Cohen, Treyzon & Salo LLP, represents the landlord, Gholamreza Rezai.

The interrogation would have likely pried open the private business affairs of the 26-year-old “Rack City” rapper, who has been romantically linked to the youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Kylie Jenner.

When Tyga did not show up in court, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Nancy L. Newman signed off on the arrest warrant, with bail set at $10,000, according to Abir.

The case traces to 2011, when Tyga rented a Malibu mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean for $16,000 a month, according to court papers. He missed a monthly rental payment before breaking his lease early, court papers allege.

Tyga, whose legal name is Michael Ray Stevenson, left behind a home in need of repairs, according to Boris Treyzon, the landlord’s attorney.

The master bedroom had been outfitted with a stripper’s pole and the home’s intercom system was disconnected. The hardwood floors, gate opener and glass-tiled shower were damaged, according to court papers.

“He leased a house that he wanted to use as his primary residence, then he completely trashed it,” Treyzon said. The original lawsuit filed in 2012 that led to the judgment also named Tyga Music.

In March, the judge approved a default judgment totaling $480,285, which covers compensation for the alleged vandalism, rent owed and legal fees. The judgment has a 10% yearly interest, Treyzon said.

After Tyga did not pay, the landlord’s attorneys sought a debtor’s examination — a hearing in which a person has to answer under oath about his property, assets and financial affairs.

To notify the rapper about Tuesday’s debtor’s hearing, attorneys sent a contractor to his July 20 concert in San Diego, which coincided with Comic-Con.

While Tyga was on stage at Fluxx Night Club, the agent served him with the notice to appear in court, Treyzon said. The strategy allowed the agent to sidestep any security workers or friends who might have tried to block access to the rapper.

“We got the judgment entered, and now it’s collection time,” Treyzon said.

A publicist for Tyga did not respond to an after-hours request for comment. It’s unclear what attorney or law firm was representing him.

For more news in California, follow @MattHjourno.

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UPDATES:

11:10 a.m.: This article was updated with news of the judge issuing a warrant for Tyga’s arrest.

This article was originally published at 4:30 a.m.