Woman who won sex tape suit against 50 Cent challenges his lawyer's spending

Lastonia Leviston won a $7 million judgement against the rapper in July after a jury found 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, knowingly posted her sex tape online in a bid to embarrass his rap rival, Rick Ross, who has a child with her. The “Get Rich or Die Trying” rapper got the 2008 tape from the man in it, Leviston's boyfriend at the time. 

However, since Jackson has filed for bankruptcy protection on his estimated $150 million fortunes, Ms Leviston is now challenging the expenses of the rapper's lawyer.  Specifically, she is targeting US$123,455.92 spent on luxury hotels, travel expenses, court reporter fees and legal research.

"Ms Leviston's attorneys stayed in a New York City hotel for the same trial as the Brewer Firm's attorneys and expended $249 to $450 per night per room," the media outlet quotes Ms Leviston's court documents as saying. She labelled the expenses as "extravagant, excessive and unreasonable", adding that her own legal team spent less than $3000. 

Ms Leviston continues to stick by her claim that Curtis Jackson filed his Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 13 as it coincided with the $7 million case she had filed against him.

At the time of his filing, Jackson said his bankruptcy case was a "strategic business move".

Late last week, the rapper posted a video to his Instagram account of himself reaching into a fridge filled with stacks of $100 notes.

His lawyer Brett Kimmel has since denied the rapper is flush with cash."I'm not sure that's 50's fridge. I don't think he eats processed-cheese products," he said.

Ms Leviston's lawyer, Hunter Shkolnik, said the video shows the rapper is "just laughing at people"."Nothing surprises me with him. He hasn't been honest about his assets from the very beginning," Mr Shkolnik told Page Six.

“We believe all of the firm’s expenses were appropriate, and we are prepared to demonstrate that to the court,” William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer Attorneys & Counselors, told The News. “We are confident the court will conclude these expenses were reasonable.”

50 Cent reportedly made more than $135 million from the sale of Vitamin Water to Coca-Cola in 2007, after joining the brand as an investor. He has sold more than 22 million albums, according to The New York Times.