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Vishnick McGovern Milizio partner Avrohom Gefen, head of the firm's Employment Law and Commercial Litigation practices, and of counsel Andrew Kimler, head of the Alternative Dispute Resolution practice and key member of the Employment Law and Commercial Litigation practices, are representing the plaintiff in a high-profile lawsuit against the rapper Busta Rhymes, for wage theft, emotional harm, and assault and battery.
VMM is representing Mr. Rhymes’ former assistant, Dashiel Gables, jointly with Mark Panzavecchia, of the law firm Panzavecchia & Associates, PLLC.
Busta Rhymes (Trevor Smith Jr.) is a renowned hip-hop artist, who recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is also an actor, appearing in the new Naked Gun movie, and a Walmart presenter, starring in ads and commercials.
The case has generated mainstream and industry headlines worldwide, including: Los Angeles Times, Newsday, People, Guardian, Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, Vibe, AV Club, TMZ, and The Source, among many others.
Below are Mr. Gables' and Mr. Gefen's official statements:
Dashiel Gables;
“I worked my heart out for Busta. Long hours, day and night, weekends, you name it. He bullied me from day one. He regularly insulted me, called me names and slurs, screamed at me in front of other people. He forced me to chase after him for even little things like expense reimbursement when I had to buy him cigarettes and liquor with my own money. But I stuck around, because I needed the work and I thought things would get better. But instead, he punched me twice in the face.”
Avrohom Gefen;
"This case is about justice for the little guy.
Mr. Gables is a hardworking man, who tried to hold on to a job he desperately needed and please a boss who bullied him mercilessly. Mr. Rhymes regularly insulted my client, referred to him with slurs, humiliated him in front of other people, and refused to pay him what he owed, despite being a very wealthy man.
Despite the abuse and humiliation he endured daily, Mr. Gables stayed at the job because he needed the income, because he was afraid of Rhymes, who's a powerful and influential figure in the hip-hop world, and because he hoped Rhymes would eventually treat him differently. Instead, Rhymes assaulted him, to the point of needing hospitalization.
Because he finally stood up for himself, Mr. Gables is now blacklisted in the industry, with no work or prospects. He's heartbroken. Mr. Rhymes has crushed his lifelong dream.
Mr. Rhymes has a long history of charges and lawsuits brought against him by former employees. It's a twenty-year pattern of intimidation and abusive behavior toward those who depended on him for their livelihood. His disparaging statement against Mr. Gables is a continuation of this pattern of bullying. He's gotten away with it for far too long. No more."
For press inquiries, please email info@vmmlegal.com or call 516.437.4385.
Photo by All-Pro Reels, Wikimedia Commons.
