by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 18 – 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:
Defense counsel says not getting paid, LA mansion can't be sold. Defense counsel: At one point Mr. Reid changed his phone number and I couldn't reach him. When we became aware of destruction of text messages, our firm paid for forensic review, Judge Caproni called us generous
Judge Vargas: Has Mr. Reid spoken to you about your motion to withdraw? Defense counsel: He expressed displeasure. Dixon's lawyer: We deposed Mr. Johnson, the house can be sold, Mariah Carey met at his house in October 2024
Dixon's lawyer: Mr. Ried could pay from the song Good, Good with Usher.
Judge Vargas: There may be a pattern of delay tactics by Mr. Reid. But I don't want to hurt this small boutique defense firm. I am considering denying the motion to withdraw, so discovery can end. But not for trial Judge: I will allow them to withdraw before trial. If Mr. Reid or a new counsel does not appear for the final pre-trial conference, Dixon may move for default.
On July 17, Dixon's lawyers asked for leave to file on adverse inference, writing that Defendant Reid "deleted over 200 text messages on December 14, 2024... The messages that Defendant did not delete are of a sexual nature... The text messages he deleted were likely even more explicit."
Reid's outgoing counsel, still on the case, fired back on July 18 that Dixon is "attempting to impugn Reid for recently deleting text messages with a 'female subordinate' that have nothing to do with Dixon or this case." Inner City Press remains on the case(s)
More on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here
The case is Dixon v. Reid, 1:23-cv-9878 (Vargas)
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