Da Brat still faces significant debt in connection to an assault case from over a decade ago. But according to a new report, the rapper will avoid going to jail over it.
Shayla Stevens accused Da Brat of smashing a bottle in the face of the former cheerleader at a club in 2007. The “Dish Nation” host owes $6.4 million in the case, but a judge recently ruled that Da Brat is protected from having to pay that up while she sorts through her bankruptcy filing, according to documents claimed to be obtained by The Blast Thursday, Oct. 18.
Da Brat attends the WE tv’s “Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta” premiere screening event on May 16, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for WE tv)
Stevens and her attorneys claimed the rapper should be placed in contempt of court by a Georgia state court for not paying what the rapper owes the former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader and for failing to comply with a discovery order. However, Da Brat claimed if she were to serve jail time, she wouldn’t be able to pay off not only what she owes Stevens but the other $1.3 million she owes to the IRS, her record label, and credit card company, among others. Additionally, the performer said she believed a bankruptcy filing meant she’d have protection from her present debts and ongoing collection attempts.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge James Sacca in Atlanta has agreed with Da Brat’s argument and signed off on her claim.
In August, news emerged that the “Funkdafied” performer owes over $7.7 million to various entities, which caused her to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. While the biggest source of debt comes from Stevens’ case against her, Da Brat also owes her So So Def record label’s parent company, Sony Music Entertainment, $1,255,128. Plus the MC owes $12,000 to Ally Bank and an undisclosed amount of back taxes to the IRS.