Extra: In Drake UMG Lawsuit About Not Like Us Motion to Dismiss Is Argued, Judge Vargas to Rule Later

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 30 – In Drake's lawsuit against UMG for Kendrick Lamar's song "Not Like Us," a hearing was held on April 2 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jeannette N. Vargas. She denied UMG's motion to stay discovery, and asked for a case management plan.

On April 9 Drake's lawyer Michael Gottlieb filed a plan, saying there have been no settlement negotiations and that a trial will / would take three weeks. Proposed plan on Patreon here.

On April 14, Judge Vargas signed and finalized the plan, with deposition not due until February 2026 - final signed plan on Patreon here

Back on April 2 Inner City Press was there, from the thread:

Judge Vargas: You say there are 16 RFP [Requests for Production] pending - any third party discovery?

Drake's Willkie Farr lawyer: We've served three third-party subpoenas, and we are trying to serve a fourth. They will go forward is discovery is not stayed

Judge Vargas: I cannot find on that basis that a stay of discovery is warranted. Here there is only one defendant, which weighs against staying discovery. UMG can object to individual requests. The motion to stay discovery is denied.

On June 30 Judge Vargas heard oral argument on UMG's motion to dismiss; Drake's lawyer Gottlieb emphasized damage, not only reputational but via stream bots, thread

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