Lady Gaga Sued For Nonpayment of $500K Reward For Return of Dogs

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer-songwriter renowned for her image reinventions and musical versatility.

She began her career as a teenager, singing at open mic nights and acting in school plays. Her debut album, The Fame, was released in 2008.

Jennifer McBride Sues Lady Gaga For $500K Reward For Return Of Dogs

Lady Gaga's dogs were stolen, and Jennifer McBride is suing the pop star for not paying her $500K reward. McBride claims Gaga made it clear she would pay her for returning her two French bulldogs; thus, when she turned in the dogs at a police station, she should have received money in exchange for their safe return.

McBride filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles superior court on Friday, according to BuzzFeed News, USA Today, NBC News, Law & Crime and People. She claims Lady Gaga promised her full payment if she returned her dogs Koji and Gustav unharmed; which is why she turned them over to Gaga's team at LAPD Olympic Community station only two days after they had been stolen from their dog walker Ryan Fischer.

McBride's suit contends Gaga breached her contract by not paying her for returning the pups, and also violated her fiduciary duty by failing to protect her promise. She is seeking no less than $1.5 million in damages, with her lawyer alleging fraud by false promise and misrepresentation on Gaga's part.

McBride claimed she had a pre-existing relationship with the father of one of the men responsible for taking Gaga's dogs, and returned them expecting to receive compensation. Additionally, she asserted Gaga's "unconditional offer of returning the pets" meant she should have received all promised funds.

This case illustrates the intricacies of theft cases, which become even more intricate when a large reward is offered for returning property. It also serves to remind us that even in high-profile cases with multiple defendants, contracts and promises should always be taken seriously.

It will be fascinating to watch how the courts resolve this complex legal matter. The case illustrates that singers' promises of payment for property return should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, this case illustrates that when contracts and promises are made during traumatic events, they can be especially vulnerable to abuse or misuse.

McBride Accused Gaga Of Fraud

Lady Gaga's two stolen French bulldogs were returned to them by Jennifer McBride, one of five people arrested in connection with their 2021 armed dognapping. McBride filed a lawsuit against Gaga for breach of contract and fraud by false promise, alleging she has suffered "compensatory damages" such as mental anguish, pain and suffering along with loss of enjoyment of life due to not receiving her reward money.

McBride returned the dogs to police two days after they were taken. She reported seeing a car pull up and someone get out, then saw two dogs tied to a pole. McBride then "paced back and forth" while waiting for someone else to drop off the pets, according to court documents. McBride then handed them over to LAPD Det. Chris Marsden for processing, the Los Angeles Times reports.

McBride's charges against her were reduced in December as part of a plea deal, and she was sentenced to two years probation for her role in the crime, according to NBC News.

At the time, Gaga reportedly offered a $500,000 reward for the return of stolen dogs. She stated there would be "no questions asked," and she reportedly announced her offer on social media platforms.

On February 20, 2021, a white Nissan Altima pulled up to the curb outside McBride's home and pulled up alongside her dog walker Ryan Fischer. According to reports, three men then surrounded and robbed McBride of her belongings and shot Fischer during an intense attack, as reported by The Los Angeles Times.

After the incident, Gaga offered a reward for the return of Koji and Gustav, her three French bulldogs. On her website, she stated that she would give money to anyone who could bring back the animals.

She hoped this would encourage people to return their dogs in exchange for compensation. But later she clarified that she didn't intend to pay any rewards and only handed in the dogs after police informed her of her rights.

Gaga Accused McBride Of Breach Of Contract

Gaga has been in the spotlight lately after an alleged dognapping accomplice filed a lawsuit against her to collect on her reward of $500,000. Jennifer McBride, who was arrested in February 2021 in connection with the theft of two Lady Gaga's dogs, is now suing Lady Gaga for breach of contract and fraud by false promise.

According to the lawsuit, Gaga offered McBride a reward of $500,000 for the safe return of her two dogs Koji and Gustav. They had been stolen from dog walker Ryan Fischer on Sunset Boulevard as Gaga walked them.

During the robbery, Fischer was shot in the chest. Fortunately, he recovered and continued living with Gaga for some time before being freed.

McBride was one of five people arrested in connection with the incident. She and her boyfriend Harold White were charged as accessories after the fact to attempted murder for their roles in the crime.

In December, she entered a no contest plea to one count of receiving stolen property in the case. According to a previous news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, she was dating one of the other alleged suspects at the time of the crime.

The lawsuit alleges Gaga breached her obligation to McBride by not paying the reward, and seeks damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life due to the loss of her money. Furthermore, it cites California law which holds defendants who receive restitution awards accountable for any losses suffered by victims of their crimes.

Another way the lawsuit suggests Gaga's promise was false is by comparing it to a game called "Gaga Ball," which originated in Israel and involves last person standing. Players enter the pit, shout "Gaga," and attempt to hit or roll the ball into other players below their waist; if hit below this line, they are out of the game and must leave.

McBride Sues Gaga For $500K Reward

Lady Gaga's two French bulldogs, Koji and Gustav, were taken during a Hollywood robbery in February 2021. Dog walker Ryan Fischer was shot during the incident; James Howard Jackson, one of the men involved, later pleaded guilty to attempted murder and received 21 years in prison as punishment.

Two years ago, Jennifer McBride returned the singer's dogs to an LAPD station. However, she was later charged with receiving stolen property and being an accessory after the fact, according to TMZ. In December she pleaded no contest to this charge and received two years probation.

But now she is suing Gaga for $1.5 million in damages, alleging that she never received the money promised her for returning the animals. She alleges Gaga "defrauded her by making a promise without intent to perform" and claims this has caused her pain, suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment in life as a result.

McBride filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court after she was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property after returning the dogs to police. She allegedly delivered them to an LAPD Olympic Community station two days after they had been taken.

She reported the dogs as tied to a pole and asked about any rewards, but authorities refused to pay her. When she returned the animals to their owner, TMZ reported, she had no idea they'd been stolen until she asked about them. Furthermore, she claimed to be in a relationship with Jaylin White's father - one of those responsible for taking away her pets.

McBride's attorney stated that she has a strong case against Gaga and her promise of a "no questions asked" reward was false. He maintained that Gaga never intended to pay the reward if McBride returned the dogs.

Gaga had promised that she would pay the money if anyone returned the dogs, prompting an outcry across social media. Some even encouraged McBride to share her story publicly but she chose not to. In addition to all the pain and suffering she has gone through, McBride says she lost her job and has lost relationships as a result of the incident.