jury rejects – In the fourth trial of a yearslong dispute over OMG Girlz dolls, a jury found MGA Entertainment did not act with malice—denying T.I. and Tiny access to $53.6 million in punitive damages and keeping their total recovery at $17.9 million in compensatory damages.
The fourth trial in a yearslong legal fight between T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris and MGA Entertainment ended with a quiet but decisive message: no malice, no punitive damages.
On Wednesday, the jury in the latest trial found that MGA had not acted with malice. That meant no punitive damages would be awarded. and the couple’s total recovery remains capped at $17.9 million in compensatory damages awarded by a different jury nearly two years ago. T.I. and Harris had asked the court to restore some of the $53.6 million in punitive damages that a California judge had previously thrown out.
“We appreciate the jury’s time and consideration but are disappointed in the verdict,” T.I. and Tiny’s lawyers—led by John Keville, Chante Westmoreland, and Robert Green—said in a statement. “We proved malice once and believe that had this jury had the benefit of the three weeks of evidence the last jury saw. they too would have found punitives appropriate. It’s clear from the evidence that MGA’s policies are inadequate to prevent this type of IP infringement. and their document retention and collection procedures are equally as suspect. We will continue to fight for our clients’ rights and the rights of all creatives.”.
MGA Entertainment’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The punitive-damages portion has been in the crosshairs since U.S. District Judge James V. Selna threw out the $53.6 million portion of the 2024 verdict last year. calling it “unsupported by the evidence.” Wednesday’s ruling built on that sequence. leaving the underlying compensatory recovery intact and limiting what the couple can win going forward.
The case has been running since 2020, after T.I. and Tiny—who created and own OMG Girlz—took aim at what they said was unauthorized use of their group’s identity. At the third trial. in September 2024. a jury found that MGA misappropriated the group’s name. likeness. and identity by using them as the basis for seven dolls in its top-selling L.O.L. Surprise!. O.M.G. line.
That earlier jury awarded a combined $71.5 million, and it reached its punishment conclusion after finding MGA acted with malice. The decision rested on a specific comparison: the jury concluded MGA knowingly copied the OMG Girlz’s name, neon hair, and distinctive outfits.
OMG Girlz is built around Tiny’s daughter, Zonnique “Star” Pullins, along with Bahja “Beauty” Rodriguez and Breaunna “Babydoll” Womack.
The dispute has been shaped by repeated turns in court. The first trial began in January 2023 and ended in a mistrial after jurors heard barred testimony accusing the toy company of “cultural appropriation.” A second trial a few months later cleared MGA of wrongdoing. but that verdict was overturned on appeal after a Supreme Court ruling gave more weight to evidence about consumer confusion.
At the third trial, T.I. and Tiny convinced jurors that MGA marketed seven specific dolls that clearly copied how the OMG Girlz appeared at “very specific public events” or in publicized photos. MGA denied the allegations. During that trial. Isaac Larian—the billionaire founder of MGA Entertainment—testified that T.I. Tiny. and the three OMG Girlz members played no role in the design of the dolls. He called them “extortionists.”.
After the $71.5 million verdict in 2024, T.I. and Tiny said they felt vindicated. T.I. told Rolling Stone in 2024, “I think justice was served. I think it’s a testament to the relentlessness and resilience of my wife, daughter, and nieces. We’re just happy we were able to come out on top and fight for creatives and our intellectual property that large corporations seem to think is just public domain and free for all to come and grab and use.” Tiny said the $71 million award was more than she expected. adding. “At the end of the day. the evidence showed [MGA] stole from us. They stole from our creation. I’m glad we stuck with it. No one could tell me they did not steal from us.”.
Pullins, Rodriguez, and Womack attended the various trials and took turns testifying. After the 2024 verdict, they hugged in the hallway outside the courtroom. “When the judge asked if we had a memorable trade dress and everyone raised their hands, I got so emotional. We all silently cried,” Pullins said at the time.
Wednesday’s verdict doesn’t undo what the earlier jury determined about infringement—but it sharply limits what punishment can look like. With the punitive damages request rejected. the couple’s recovery remains anchored to the $17.9 million compensatory award from the different jury. leaving the long legal fight to continue under a narrower ceiling.
T.I. Tiny Tameka Harris MGA Entertainment OMG Girlz L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. punitive damages compensatory damages intellectual property malice Zonnique Pullins Bahja Rodriguez Breaunna Womack James V. Selna