Following months of poor communication and missed payments, Tekashi 6ix9ine's lawyers intend to resign as his counsel.
According to court documents, Meloni & McCaffrey informed U.S. District Judge Hector Gonzalez of their intention to no longer represent 6ix9ine (a.k.a. Daniel Hernandez). Attorney Robert Meloni described his client's problems, including how he rarely talked with 6ix9ine.
“From June 2021 until March 2022, I had sporadic communications directly with Mr. Hernandez, and mainly communicated with him via texts,” Meloni wrote. “At the beginning of the representation, until March 2022, I communicated almost entirely with Justin Kobay, the business manager for Mr. Hernandez and his companies whenever I needed to consult with someone about this action or the other matters I was handling for Mr. Hernandez. Mr. Kobay would act as a liaison. However, Mr. Kobay resigned as business manager for Mr. Hernandez in March 2022.”
Meloni stated that after Kobay's resignation, he was every so often able to discuss matters with 6ix9ine's brother Oscar Hernandez. In September, 6ix9ine's brother stopped responding to Meloni's calls, emails, and texts.
“There is now a total breakdown in communication between Mr. Hernandez and the Firm,” Meloni explained. “Mr. Hernandez’s last communication with me took place in early March 2022 relating to one of the other litigations. Finally, I just learned that Mr. Hernandez changed his phone number, which he did not tell me himself. He did not provide me with his new mobile number.”
Meloni found it difficult to represent 6ix9ine, and tend to spend months looking for him. To complicate things worse, the controversial musician is accused of failing to pay for legal services since December 2021.
“Mr. Hernandez’s refusal or inability to communicate with the Firm makes it impossible for the Firm to continue its representation because, among other things, we are unable to get Mr. Hernandez’s input on discovery decisions or strategic decisions required during the course of the litigation,” Meloni wrote. “Moreover, Mr. Hernandez, who has not made a payment to the firm since December 2021, has a substantial outstanding balance for this matter and four other litigations, and has not indicated an intent or ability to make a payment in the future.”
Due to the impossibility to find 6ix9ine, the attorney advised processing the withdrawal by email.
