MGA Entertainment is asking T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris to repay $6 million over a lawsuit filed against the toy company. The couple had filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against MGA for stealing the name, likeness and trade dress of the OMG Girlz. Founded in 2009, the pop trio was created by Tiny and included her daughter, Zonnique Pullins.
Last month, jurors sided with the toy company after a 10-day trial. Today, MGA is asking for $6 million to be repaid, as the lawsuit resulted in a mistrial after barred testimony was presented to jurors.
“The OMG Girlz’ litigation tactics, over-reaching claims, and misconduct — including violating one of this Court’s … rulings as to require a mistrial — justify awarding MGA the over $6.1 million in fees spent litigating this matter,” a court filing obtained by Billboard indicated.
MGA noted the case represented an “exceptional” situation and that T.I.’s lawyers used an “extremely aggressive” style that made the case “exceptionally contentious.” It also cited that the mistrial required the staging of a second trial.
“Both in the manner the OMG Girlz litigated this case, and the weakness of the substantive claims and theories the OMG Girlz presented (as confirmed by the jury), the Court should conclude that this case stands out from others,” MGA wrote.
T.I. and Tiny filed a lawsuit against the company after it launched its “L.O.L. Surprise O.M.G.” dolls in 2019. The case first went to trial in January 2023 and ended in a mistrial after barred testimony from a customer was presented to jurors.
The customer accused MGA of “racist cultural appropriation,” adding she “did not want to support a company that steals from African Americans and their ideas.”
T.I. and Tiny said the company stole the girl group’s aesthetic, citing a 2017 performance during which the trio reunited.
