Friday, May 1, 2026

In Fat Joe Suit against Dixon Sealing Did Not Follow Rules Sanctions are Videographer Costs



In Fat Joe Suit against Dixon Sealing Did Not Follow Rules Sanctions are Videographer Costs

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 24  – Terrance Dixon says he was abused by Joseph Cartagena a/k/a Fat Joe.

 But Fat Joe sued Dixon first, for defamation. After that, Dixon's lawyer Tyrone Blackburn filed his suit against Fat Joe. 

   On August 1 both cases were addressed before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jennifer L. Rochon. Inner City Press live tweeted, here

  The upshot is that Judge Rochon declined to stay discovery in Fat Joe v. Dixon, but also declined the request of Fat Joe and Roc Nations that Dixon's case be dismissed and made into a counterclaim in Fat Joe's suit. 

   Instead, Dixon's case will be consolidated with Fat Joes, with Dixon directed to effectuate service of process before an Initial Pre-Trial Conference in that case in October. 

On September 8 Dixon's counsel Blackburn wrote in asking to amend a filing with a series of misquoted or non existent cases - and on September 10 Judge Rochon declined to accept the amendment, stating "defendants may address any inaccuracies in their previous brief in reply. full filing and endorsement on Patreon here

On January 9, Blackburn filed a complaint: Filing on Patreon here

On January 20 Judge Rochon held a conference on depositions. Blackburn said Dixon could be at danger entering and exiting; Fat Joe's lawyer was dismissed and Judge Rochon said there is a right to in-person depositions. So it will be at a midtown law firm on February 6, time and location not reported here.

But it did not happen, as described in a February 10 conference that Inner City Press live tweeted.

On March 24 Fat Joe's counsel moved for sanctions, attaching a 76 page deposition in which Dixon said he is couch surfing all over the The and Blackburn told him not to produce a requested photograph, transcript now on Patreon here

Then Dixon filed a slimmed-down amended complaint, with some charges dropped, still alleging "“coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, copyright misappropriation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion” - 64 page amended complaint on Patreon here

On April 24 Judge Rochon awarded some but not all sanctions: "ORDER granting in part [146] Letter Motion for Discovery. After considering the parties' submissions, the Court will hold Defendants in contempt for failing to appear at the Court-ordered depositions on February 6 and 9, 2026. However, after weighing the facts and circumstances here, including the factors set forth above, the Court will not impose the sanctions requested by the Plaintiff because of the medical issues cited by Plaintiff, and will not award the attorneys' fees requested by Plaintiff given that time spent preparing for the depositions will be directed toward the rescheduled depositions. However, Plaintiff incurred the costs of a videographer and court reporter for the depositions because Defendants did not timely obtain relief from the Court-ordered deposition dates. Therefore, Defendants are ORDERED to pay Plaintiff the reasonable costs incurred to pay the videographer and court reporter for the February 6 and 9, 2026 deposition dates. Plaintiff shall promptly produce to Defendants proof of costs incurred for the videographer and court reporter, and Defendants are ORDERED to reimburse Plaintiff for those costs within 10 days of receipt of the invoices."

Watch this site.

Moreon X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The two cases have been consolidated under the first filed case, Cartagena v. Dixon, et al., 1:25-cv-3552 (Rochan)

 More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

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