Kim Kardashian Won Her Lawsuit. The Judge Awarded Her $167,000. She Gave It Back.

Kim Kardashian on the Pretty Big Deal podcast in 2018. Credit: Ashley Graham / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Texas man sued Kim Kardashian after she posted the wrong person’s photo while advocating for a death row inmate. A judge dismissed every claim, awarded Kardashian $167,000 in legal fees, and declared the case closed. Then Kardashian’s team confirmed the decision and waived the entire fee award.

The Case That Began With a Mistaken Photo

In 2024, Kardashian posted a photo she believed was of death row inmate Ivan Cantu while publicly supporting his case. The image was of a private Texas resident who shares the same name. Kardashian deleted the post immediately after learning of the error and denied any wrongdoing. The non-incarcerated Ivan Cantu filed suit claiming the post caused him harm.

What the Court Found

The court dismissed all claims with prejudice - meaning the case cannot be refiled. The judge found Cantu’s arguments insufficient to establish harm. On top of the dismissal, the judge awarded Kardashian $167,000 in legal fees, a standard mechanism that holds plaintiffs responsible for costs when their claims are found to lack merit.

The Part No One Expected

Kardashian’s legal team confirmed the outcome and then waived the entire $167,000 judgment. The decision to give back an award the court granted voluntarily is unusual. The case is closed on all fronts - dismissed, fees awarded, fees declined.

The documented record: she posted the wrong person by mistake, deleted it, denied wrongdoing, was sued, won, was awarded money, and returned it. No part of that sequence ended the way the plaintiff anticipated.

References: Kim Kardashian Ends Lawsuit With Unexpected Twist