Damon Dash Faces Default Judgment as Legal Woes Mount

After repeatedly defying court orders in the ongoing legal battle over "Dear Frank," Damon Dash has been handed a significant setback in his clash with director Josh Webber.

Judge John F. Walter did not mince words, criticizing Dash for his consistent disregard of court directives, nullifying his legal response, and paving the way for a default judgment against him.

The legal feud traces back to a protracted dispute over the film, initially involving Dash but later resulting in his removal due to alleged unprofessional conduct on set.

Despite his dismissal, Dash persisted in promoting the movie as his own, even attempting to market it under the moniker "The List."

In response, Webber and production company Muddy Water Pictures took legal action for copyright infringement and defamation in 2019. Subsequently, a jury decreed that Dash must pay $805,000 in damages in 2022.

In the latest development, Judge Walter rebuked Dash for his failure to adhere to basic court procedures, such as neglecting to file crucial legal documentation, evading court-mandated mediation, and willfully missing deadlines.

This ruling underscores that Dash had been forewarned extensively, but his noncompliance compelled the court to rule against him by default.

This ruling allows Webber and his team to pursue damages, conceivably surpassing the initial $805,000, factoring in interest and legal expenses.

The judge has set a deadline of March 3 for Webber to present evidence of damages, potentially exposing Dash to substantial financial liabilities.

Adding to Dash's legal woes, author Edwyna Brooks recently filed a lawsuit, alleging that he concealed assets to evade settling another $100,000 judgment in a separate case.

Previously, a court mandated the sale of Dash's one-third interest in Roc-A-Fella Records to service his debts, which include an $8.7 million tax obligation. However, the sale yielded just over $1 million.