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Judge Orders Bilaal Salaam to Pay Jada Pinkett Smith $32,836 in Legal Fees

The ruling enforces anti‑SLAPP cost‑shifting, preserving the lawsuit for further court management in August.

Overview

  • A Los Angeles judge ordered Salaam to pay Pinkett Smith $32,836 for attorneys’ fees after she won partial relief under California’s anti‑SLAPP law.
  • The fee award was cut from her $49,181 request after the judge found some billing entries excessive or charged at high hourly rates.
  • Salaam raised an inability‑to‑pay argument at the May 18 hearing but the judge denied that request because it was not raised earlier in court papers.
  • Salaam still pursues a $3 million intentional‑infliction‑of‑emotional‑distress claim that was narrowed when the court struck allegations tied to public media statements.
  • The case remains active with a court‑ordered case‑management conference set for August 19, 2026, and both parties may seek further rulings or settlement before trial.