By Trendsetter Tribune 
A long-running paternity dispute involving Jay-Z has taken a decisive turn after a federal judge ordered the accuser’s former guardian to pay the rapper’s legal fees, effectively closing the case.
The ruling, reported by AllHipHop.com, requires Lillie Coley, the godmother and former guardian of Rymir Satterthwaite, to cover attorneys’ fees for Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter. The court dismissed Coley’s claims with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled.
The judge granted the fees under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, finding that Coley’s lawsuit lacked legal merit and improperly targeted protected legal actions. Jay-Z’s lawyers were deemed entitled to recover costs after years of repeated filings across multiple courts.
Satterthwaite has claimed since the early 2010s that Jay-Z is his biological father, an allegation the rapper has consistently denied. Earlier paternity actions filed in New Jersey were dismissed, and courts later restricted further filings without approval.
In 2025, Coley revived the dispute with a federal lawsuit in California, accusing Jay-Z and state officials of misconduct tied to past court orders and liens she said pushed her into bankruptcy. The court rejected those arguments, denied amendments, and cleared the way for sanctions.
Its not over until we win; we never had our day in court for merits of case. Nobody wants to see the proof of fraud and under age woman. Deeds, affidavits, property tax. Privilege speech of lies does qualify for anti slapp protection. @AGPamBondi https://t.co/LRqmykYMoJ
— Rymir Is Here (@RymirIsHere) January 16, 2026
Public reaction online was mixed, with some criticizing Jay-Z for never taking a DNA test and others questioning why Coley was left responsible for the financial penalty. Satterthwaite insists the fight is about due process and says he has not given up, despite the ruling.
With the sanctions now finalized, the decision appears to end a legal saga that has stretched more than a decade, reinforcing repeated court findings that there is no legal basis to compel further action against Jay-Z.