Milagro Gramz Challenges Judge’s One-Sentence Ruling In Megan Thee Stallion Appeal
Originally published by AllHipHop Read the original
Milagro Gramz is putting a judge’s one-sentence rejection at the center of her latest fight with Megan Thee Stallion, arguing that an unexplained ruling leaves an important question about impartiality unanswered.
Her reply brief in the Eleventh Circuit challenges the denial of her request to reopen the judgment. The blogger says the appeals court cannot properly review that decision without knowing how the judge evaluated her conflict allegations.
“Public confidence is not restored by a paperless ‘denied,'” Milagro wrote.
The dispute concerns U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga’s husband, George Mencio Jr., and his position at Holland & Knight. Milagro points to the firm’s representation of Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez in separate litigation, alongside Megan’s trial testimony about conversations with Perez.
Those connections, Milagro argues, create an appearance problem even without proof of actual bias.
Megan’s lawyers already rejected that reasoning. They also argue that federal procedural rules permit judges to reject this type of motion without issuing a written opinion.
They say neither the judge’s husband nor his firm appeared in this lawsuit, and the connections Milagro describes do not justify undoing the result.
“The judge’s spouse did not appear in this case. His firm did not appear in this case,” Megan’s attorneys wrote.
The two sides also disagree about whether Milagro waited too long. She says supporters alerted her to the spouse-firm relationship on May 29, and she investigated before filing her motion on July 7.
Megan’s team argues that the information was public before trial and that Milagro raised the issue only after losing other attempts at relief. Milagro counters that public availability does not establish when she actually learned the relevant facts.
“A bond motion is not a recusal motion,” Milagro wrote, rejecting the suggestion that her earlier request concerning payment should have included this challenge.
AllHipHop previously covered her appeal following the bond dispute, part of the continuing battle over Megan’s $75,000 judgment.
Her challenge to the underlying judgment and this separate appeal have been consolidated for disposition.
