A California judge has ordered that a contract dispute tied to the long-running legal battle between Ray J, Kim Kardashian, and Kris Jenner be moved out of public court and into private arbitration.
The ruling concerns a countersuit filed by Ray J in response to a defamation case brought by Kardashian and Jenner. In that countersuit, Ray J alleged the pair breached a prior settlement agreement by continuing to reference the sex tape involving him and Kardashian during episodes of the family reality series, “The Kardashians.”
According to the court’s decision, the judge agreed with arguments from Kardashian and Jenner that the parties had previously entered into a binding contract requiring disputes connected to that agreement to be resolved through arbitration rather than litigation in open court.
As a result, Ray J’s countersuit will now proceed in a private forum. However, the separate defamation lawsuit initiated by Kardashian and Jenner remains active in court and has not been transferred.
The latest ruling marks a procedural win for Kardashian and Jenner as the broader legal fight continues. Their attorney, Alex Spiro, welcomed the decision, telling TMZ, “We expected the court to rule in our favor and we’re pleased with the decision.”
The underlying defamation complaint stems from statements Ray J allegedly made claiming Kardashian and Jenner were under investigation for racketeering-related matters. Kardashian and Jenner have denied those claims and sought damages through the courts.
The dispute has drawn renewed public attention to controversies that first emerged years ago, while also raising questions about how prior settlement agreements are enforced when public comments and television storylines revisit old allegations.
No timetable for the arbitration proceedings has been announced. Both matters are expected to continue on separate legal tracks in the months ahead.
