The legal landscape surrounding Drake’s Stake case has intensified dramatically, escalating into a nationwide battleground within the state of New Mexico. A pivotal point of contention has emerged as both sides are aggressively pursuing discovery, jurisdiction, and a protracted court pause, mirroring the complexities of a protracted legal dispute.
Federal courts have split over the core of the case, with differing rulings on whether the claims should be subject to public disclosure or remain confidential. An August 13 joint report, meticulously reviewed by AllHipHop, reveals that both sides are demanding opposing paths from Chief U.S. District Judge Kenneth Gonzales. Plaintiffs Nathaniel Torres and Rory Michie are seeking another 90-day pause or court-approved discovery into how Drake’s Stake campaign reached New Mexico residents, arguing that this delay hinders their ability to assess the extent of the promotion’s reach.
Their lawyers assert that without discovery, Plaintiff cannot accurately determine the number of New Mexico residents subscribed to Drake’s Kick.com channel or that Drake has targeted this demographic with promotional content, compelling a significant number of young people to gamble on Stake.us. However, the Court can reasonably infer from Drake’s substantial follower count and widespread influence on young people nationwide, along with Plaintiff’s personal experience, that Drake has conducted at least a ‘single transaction’ within New Mexico, a key point of contention in the case.
Delivering news to inboxes since 1999, AllHipHop previously detailed Drake’s attempt to force arbitration in the New Mexico case, initiated with allegations involving Stake.us promotions and gambling losses. The Court’s initial judgment in a separate Stake lawsuit in Virginia, ordered arbitration in South Carolina, and a Minnesota judge’s refusal to adhere to the judgment, has placed New Mexico squarely at the center of a broader discussion regarding the public nature of these claims. The mixed outcomes suggest a potential for these claims to remain confidential or to move behind closed doors.
The jurisdiction clash arrives after a Virginia judge ordered arbitration in a related Stake lawsuit on July 30. The new filing indicates that Stake won arbitration in South Carolina, while a Minnesota judge refused and Stake appealed to the Eighth Circuit. These mixed rulings place New Mexico at the center of a broader fight over whether these claims remain public or move behind closed doors. AllHipHop previously detailed Drake’s attempt to force arbitration in the New Mexico case, which began with allegations involving Stake.us promotions and gambling losses.
Drake and Ross are seeking the stay partly lifted so they can refile dismissal motions while Stake’s arbitration request awaits the Illinois ruling. Gonzales has not ruled, and plaintiffs proposed another status report by November 11 if he extends the stay for 90 days. Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/grouchy.tv – I am Grouchy Greg. I founded AllHipHop in 1996. In addition to running the site, I enjoy breaking news stories. My stories have been cited in The LA Times, NY Times, NY Post, TMZ, Yahoo, Billboard, The Associated Press, CNN, and more.
Source: AllHipHop
