by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 9 – In 2023 Drew Dixon sued music producer L.A. Reid for sexual assault, saying it had cost her, along other things, producer points on Kanye West and John Legend.
On July 9, 2025 counsel for Reid appeared before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, asking to withdraw from the case due to Reid failing to pay. Inner City Press was there, thread
More on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here
Jump cut to January 8, 2026 when Inner City Press went to the courtroom for a 3:30 pm hearinBut it was initially told it had to leave, it was sealed. Inner City Press said, Please tell the judge I object. And minutes later, the Deputy came out into the hall and said, Come back in, the sealed portion will be at the end.
Judge Vargas said, I have a lot of evidentiary matters to address, then the 412 (sealed) portion.
But Reid's new lawyer Imran Ansari of the Aidala firm said he wanted to adjourn, and to explain why only under seal. Finally after a whispered sidebar it was adjourned, with Judge Vargas saying tomorrow at 2:30 pm, tell chambers - and the docket? - by 2 pm if if the session is still needed.
Since there are evidentiary issues, what does that mean?
Inner City Press filed a letter with the Court, and the parties, to unseal documents, here.
On January 9, while the session started open and Inner City Press live tweeted, it sent sealed at 3:48 pm. When defense counsel came out at 4:40 pm, Inner City Press went in but the judge was done. There may be something in the docket. Unsealing?
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The case is Dixon v. Reid, 1:23-cv-9878 (Vargas)
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