Lady Gaga can now breathe a sigh of relief as a lawsuit concerning the $500,000 reward for the return of her stolen French Bulldogs has been thrown out of court, Your Content has learned.
The lawsuit was filed by Jennifer McBride, who allegedly had ties to the theft of Gaga’s dogs and the shooting of her dog walker.
McBride had claimed the reward after turning in the dogs, but Gaga refused to pay, citing McBride’s later admission of receiving stolen property.
McBride’s association with one of the men involved in the crime raised suspicions regarding her involvement. Ultimately, the judge dismissed the lawsuit, stating that it would allow McBride to benefit from her admitted wrongdoing.
The judge’s ruling does not dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, leaving a possibility for amendment within 20 days. However, given McBride’s conviction and connection to the criminal scheme, it seems unlikely that she will overcome this obstacle.
McBride initially launched the lawsuit in February 2023, arguing that she deserved the reward as Gaga had offered it with “no questions asked.” Alongside the full reward, she sought triple damages, amounting to $1.5 million, alleging that Gaga’s reward offer was misleading.
According to the LA County Deputy District Attorney, McBride was aware that the dogs had been stolen when she turned them in for the reward just two days after the incident occurred at the LAPD Olympic Community station.
The theft involved two men, James Howard Jackson and Jaylin White, who ambushed Gaga’s dog walker, Ryan Fischier, while he was walking the French Bulldogs.
During the assault, Fischier was choked, hit with a semiautomatic handgun, and shot. He suffered lung damage and underwent surgery after being rushed to the hospital for treatment.
In light of the judge’s decision, the lawsuit’s dismissal provides a sense of relief for Lady Gaga, who can now focus on the well-being of her dogs and the recovery of her dog walker, while justice is pursued for those responsible for the theft and assault, according to DailyMail.