SANTA ANA, Calif. — A judge has significantly reduced a $71 million jury award to hip-hop star T.I. and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, nearly a year after they accused toy company MGA Entertainment of infringing on their teen pop group, OMG Girlz. U.S. District Court Judge James V. Selna announced on Tuesday that the original punitive damages amount of $53.6 million was “unsupported” by the evidence.
The judge stated that the most justifiable punitive damages, based on the case presented, amounted to just $1. The Harrises now face a decision: accept the reduced sum of $17.9 million plus the symbolic dollar or seek a new trial. While it remains unclear whether any retrial would focus solely on punitive damages or encompass the entire case, their attorney John Keville expressed intent to reject the $1 offer, assuming that any new trial will not impact the compensatory damages awarded.
“We are considering our options as to next steps,” Keville said. “If there is another trial regarding just punitive damages, we expect another jury will recognize MGA’s actions as malicious and copycat behavior.”
Selna’s decision followed MGA’s argument disputing any intent to infringe, describing the punitive damages as excessive. While he acknowledged evidence indicating MGA designers were aware of OMG Girlz prior to crafting the allegedly infringing dolls, he concluded that there was insufficient proof of “deliberate intent” to violate the group’s intellectual property rights.
The judge referenced MGA’s credibility concerns, recalling their staff’s refusal to recognize the unmistakable similarities between their products and famous celebrities’ personas. Despite these admissions, Selna ruled that the evidence did not convincingly demonstrate willfulness on the part of MGA.
His 33-page ruling noted that no reliable evidence confirmed MGA’s awareness of the OMG Girlz and their distinctive branding attributes. While MGA had previously been criticized for copying other celebrities, the ruling stated that this did not equate to wrongdoing against the Harrises’ group.
The Harrises have two weeks to respond to the court regarding their next steps. MGA’s representatives did not comment on the judge’s decision following its announcement.
Legal proceedings began in January 2023 but led to a mistrial due to testimony that was not permitted. A subsequent trial exonerated MGA of any wrongdoing, but an appeal led to a ruling that heavily focused on consumer confusion. Ultimately, the third trial resulted in the hefty jury award decided in September 2024.
During the initial trial, T.I. and Tiny demonstrated that MGA’s “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls bore distinct similarities to the OMG Girlz, showcasing outfits and neon hairstyles reminiscent of their own. MGA’s founder, Isaac Larian, dismissed the claims, labeling the Harrises and the OMG Girlz members, Zonnique Pullins, Bahja Rodriguez, and Breaunna Womack, as “extortionists.”
In the wake of the initial verdict, T.I. expressed satisfaction, asserting that the ruling was a crucial win for creative rights in the face of corporate infringement. “We’re just happy we were able to come out on top and fight for creatives and our intellectual property,” he said.
Tiny affirmed the significance of the jury’s findings, emphasizing that MGA had appropriated their identity. The intense advocacy from the OMG Girlz during the trials represented a passionate commitment to their artistic integrity.
Following the proceedings, Pullins, Rodriguez, and Womack expressed their relief and joy outside the courtroom, capturing the sense of emotional triumph associated with their legal battle.
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