Nelly has been awarded $67,586 in attorney fees after a federal judge sanctioned the lawyer who pursued a copyright lawsuit against the rapper on behalf of a former St. Lunatics bandmate.
The ruling, handed down on Thursday (May 28) by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in the Southern District of New York, ordered the fees to be paid not by the plaintiff – but by the plaintiff’s attorney, Precious Felder, according to the court filing, which you can read here.
The sanctions stem from a lawsuit filed in September 2024 by Ali Jones, a former member of the St. Louis rap collective, who alleged that Nelly (real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr.) had denied him royalties and songwriting credit on the rapper’s diamond-certified 2000 debut album, Country Grammar.
Jones originally sought at least $50 million in damages, claiming he and other St. Lunatics members were the “authors, creators, composers, writers and copyright owners” of lyrics to eight tracks on the album.
Three other St. Lunatics members – Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud – were initially named as co-plaintiffs but withdrew from the lawsuit, stating they had never authorized it.
Jones pressed on alone, but voluntarily dismissed the case in April 2025.
Nelly‘s legal team, led by Kenneth Freundlich of Freundlich Law, APC, then pursued sanctions against Felder, arguing the case lacked any viable legal foundation.
In an earlier ruling, the court concluded it should have been “patently obvious” that the claims could not survive judicial review, given that they fell outside the Copyright Act‘s three-year statute of limitations.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger recommended sanctions, finding that Felder had “vexatiously protracted the proceedings in bad faith.”
The court adopted that recommendation in November 2025 and ordered Felder to pay Nelly‘s reasonable attorney fees incurred in defending the matter after Jones filed his Amended Complaint.
Nelly‘s counsel initially sought $84,482.50 for 153.7 hours of legal work across three attorneys.
Felder challenged the request, arguing the billing records were vague, included clerical tasks, reflected overstaffing, and were disproportionate to the work involved.
Judge Marrero rejected most of those objections.
He found each attorney’s hourly rate “reasonable and accords with rates charged by other attorneys with similar experience handling similar matters”.
“Courts have limited patience for litigation used as a weapon rather than a remedy. Frivolous litigation isn’t free.”
Kenneth Freundlich, Freundlich Law (via Billboard)
However, the court did apply an across-the-board 20% reduction to the hours claimed – 10% for vague billing descriptions and 10% for entries reflecting clerical and administrative tasks – bringing the total award to $67,586.
The breakdown: $12,006 for Freundlich (16.56 hours after reduction), $45,080 for Grossbardt (78.4 hours), and $10,500 for Rosenberg (28 hours).
“Courts have limited patience for litigation used as a weapon rather than a remedy,” Freundlich said in a statement issued to Billboard after the ruling.
“Frivolous litigation isn’t free.”
Country Grammar was released on June 27, 2000, and propelled Nelly to mainstream stardom.
The album topped the Billboard 200 for five consecutive weeks and was certified diamond by the RIAA in 2016, denoting 10 million units sold in the United States.
In 2023, Nelly sold a portion of his catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners in a deal reportedly worth $50 million for 50% ownership of his recorded music assets.
Nelly has been ordered to certify in writing to the court when the required payments from Felder are received.Music Business Worldwide
Nelly has been awarded $67,586 in attorney fees following a federal ruling that sanctioned the lawyer, Precious Felder, who filed a copyright lawsuit against the rapper on behalf of Ali Jones, a former member of the St. Lunatics. This decision was made by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in the Southern District of New York on May 28, 2025. Notably, the fees are to be paid by Felder rather than Jones, the plaintiff.
The lawsuit was initiated in September 2024, with Jones alleging that Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., had denied him royalties and songwriting credit for songs on Nelly’s 2000 debut album, « Country Grammar. » Jones claimed that he and other members of the St. Lunatics were the rightful authors of the lyrics for eight tracks on the album, seeking damages of at least $50 million. Other band members, including Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud, were initially named as co-plaintiffs but later withdrew, clarifying that they had not authorized the lawsuit. After pressing on alone, Jones ultimately dismissed the case in April 2025.
Following the dismissal, Nelly’s legal team, led by Kenneth Freundlich of Freundlich Law, sought sanctions against Felder, arguing that the lawsuit lacked a legal basis. The court previously determined that it should have been evident that the claims were not viable, as they fell outside the three-year statute of limitations established by the Copyright Act. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger found that Felder had “vexatiously protracted the proceedings in bad faith,” recommending sanctions, which the court adopted in November 2025. Consequently, Felder was ordered to pay Nelly’s reasonable attorney fees incurred during the defense of the case after Jones filed his Amended Complaint.
Initially, Nelly’s counsel requested $84,482.50 for 153.7 hours of legal work performed by three attorneys. Felder contested this amount, claiming that the billing records were unclear, included clerical work, and suggested overstaffing for the case. However, Judge Marrero rejected most of Felder’s objections, affirming that the hourly rates charged were reasonable and consistent with those of other attorneys with similar experience in comparable matters. Nonetheless, the court did impose a 20% reduction to the claimed hours—10% for vague descriptions and another 10% for clerical entries—resulting in the final award of $67,586. The breakdown included $12,006 for Freundlich (16.56 hours post-reduction), $45,080 for Grossbardt (78.4 hours), and $10,500 for Rosenberg (28 hours).
Freundlich commented on the ruling, emphasizing that courts are intolerant of litigation used as a weapon rather than a legitimate remedy, stating, “Frivolous litigation isn’t free.”
« Country Grammar, » released on June 27, 2000, marked a significant milestone in Nelly’s career, propelling him to mainstream success. The album achieved remarkable commercial success, topping the Billboard 200 for five consecutive weeks and receiving diamond certification from the RIAA in 2016, indicating over 10 million units sold in the U.S. In 2023, Nelly made headlines again by selling a portion of his music catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners in a deal reportedly valued at $50 million for 50% ownership of his recorded music assets.
As part of the court’s ruling, Nelly is required to certify in writing to the court when he receives the ordered payments from Felder. This case highlights the legal complexities surrounding copyright disputes in the music industry and the consequences of pursuing litigation without a solid foundation. The decision serves as a reminder of the potential repercussions for attorneys who engage in what the court perceives as frivolous claims, reinforcing the principle that legal proceedings should be conducted in good faith and with a legitimate basis.
