Jermaine Dupri Former Assistant Scores Victory In Suit Over Unpaid Wages

Taddrick Mingo Says Jermaine Dupri Never Paid Him

A judge has shut down Jermaine Dupri’s attempt to have his ex-personal assistant’s lawsuit thrown out of court, and now his former employee can continue on in the legal battle accusing the music producer of never paying the man a dime for four years of work.


The music producer’s ex-assistant, Taddrick Mingo, filed a federal lawsuit back in 2014, claiming his former boss of screwed him out of wages and overtime along with violating labor laws.

Mingo began working for Dupri back in 2010 as his personal assistant, road manager and record engineer. He said he normally worked 65 plus hours a week and never received his wages despite the producer assuring him the money would come eventually.

Mingo said he worked for more than four years and was never received a paycheck. He ended up resigning from the job due because he wasn’t paid. He then sued Dupri for back pay, loss of income and damages.

Dupri fired back and counter-sued his ex-assistant denying the allegations he screwed his former friend out of wages. He explained Mingo reached out to him and asked for a job as an independent music producer. He told his friend that he could use his studio for free and also live in the complex due to the man not having a home.

Dupri argued Mingo was an independent worker and not employed by him due to him working for various record labels and being able to make his own schedule.

Then on August 18th … the judge presiding over the case came back with his decision and sided with the former assistant by shutting down Dupri’s attempt to dismiss the case.

The judge says that Dupri exercised significant control over Mingo and the facts show the producer owned the music studio where Mingo worked out of and had the power to hire and fire employees.

Despite Dupri’s claim the man wasn’t his personal assistant, the judge notes that regardless of the title given to him by the producer, he did in fact complete tasks associated with an assistant.

The judge notes Dupri controlled Mingo’s work schedule and conditions of employment and the employee had to be available 24/7. Further, he says the evidence does show that he wasn’t paid a dime and was dependent on Dupri as a result.

He ordered that Dupri’s motion to toss the case completely is denied due to the evidence thus far showing Mingo has a case to pursue against the producer.

The lawsuit will continue on with the ex-assistant pursuing damages for the 4 years of allegedly unpaid work he performed for the producer.