
In a court case involving the theft of her two French bulldogs, Koji and Gustav, in 2021, Lady Gaga won.
Judge Holly Fujie of the Los Angeles County Superior Court sided with Gaga on Monday in a case where it was claimed that the singer had broken her word about offering to pay a $500,000 bounty “no questions asked” for the return of her canines.
The lawsuit was launched in February by Jennifer McBride, who gave Gaga’s dogs back and later faced charges for receiving stolen goods.
In addition to more than $1.5 million in damages for contract violation, fraud by false promise, and fraud by deception, McBride attempted to sue Gaga for the award money. She alleged that Gaga never planned to pay the reward money and that she only wanted law enforcement to inquire about the return of the bulldogs in the complaint.
In response to a request for comment after Monday’s decision, Gaga’s lawyer remained silent.
The canines were stolen when McBride received them, she said in court, but she just took ownership of them to make sure of their safety and safe return.
The court found that despite McBride’s claims that “her purpose was to safeguard the bulldogs (and also to collect $500,000), this alleged reason does not negate her guilt of the allegation because she has admitted receiving the bulldogs “with knowing that they were stolen property,” the verdict stated.
Requests for comment from McBride’s lawyer did not immediately elicit a response.
In February 2021, as Gaga was walking her dogs with Ryan Fischer through Hollywood, the bulldogs were taken from her at gunpoint. After being wounded, Fischer posted an online need for financial assistance as he recovered from his wounds.
Gaga, whose true name is Stefani Germanotta, was away in Rome filming at the time. On social media, she offered a $500,000 “no questions asked” prize in exchange for the safe return of her dogs.
McBride delivered the bulldogs to a Los Angeles police station two days after the incident. Then she asked for the reward.
Charges were brought against three guys, two other people who helped them commit the heist, and McBride. Before the crime, McBride had known at least two of her accomplices for many years. In December, she entered a no-contest plea to receiving stolen items.