In September 2024, a federal jury in California awarded rapper T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris roughly $71.5 million after finding that MGA Entertainment copied the OMG Girlz for its L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. doll line. The OMG Girlz vs. MGA lawsuit didn’t end there: in July 2025, the judge vacated the $53.6 million in punitive damages, the Harrises rejected a $1 alternative, and a fourth trial on punitive damages was scheduled for June 23, 2026. The $17.9 million compensatory award remains in place.
What the Harrises Accused MGA of Doing
The OMG Girlz were an Atlanta R&B trio formed in 2009 under Tiny Harris’s mentorship, made up of Zonnique “Star” Pullins, Bahja “Beauty” Rodriguez, and Breaunna “Babydoll” Womack. They were known for neon hair colors and bold coordinated fashion. In 2019, MGA launched its L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Fashion Dolls, and the Harrises argued that several dolls used the OMG Girlz name and copied the specific hairstyles, hair colors, and wardrobes of individual group members.
The case is captioned MGA Entertainment Inc. v. Clifford “T.I.” Harris in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. MGA filed first, asking the court to declare that its dolls infringed nothing. T.I. and Tiny, through Grand Hustle LLC and Pretty Hustle LLC, counterclaimed for trade dress infringement under the Lanham Act, misappropriation of name and likeness under California Civil Code § 3344, and unfair competition under California Business and Professions Code § 17200. They said MGA and the OMG Girlz had discussed a licensing deal, never reached one, and MGA launched the dolls anyway.1Troutman Pepper Locke. MGA Entertainment Inc. v. Grand Hustle Pretty Hustle OMG Girlz
MGA denied everything. CEO Isaac Larian called the lawsuit a “shakedown” and “extortion” and said he went to trial “to protect creativity” and his employees.2Legal Affairs and Trials. Jury Finds in Favor of Toymaker MGA
Three Trials, Three Different Outcomes
The case went to trial three times before producing a verdict that held.
The first trial began in January 2023 and ended in a mistrial after jurors heard testimony about “cultural appropriation” and racism accusations against MGA that Judge James V. Selna had barred from the proceedings.3Billboard. T.I. Tiny OMG Girlz Trial Verdict MGA Toys
The second trial cleared MGA of wrongdoing. MGA’s lead attorney, Jennifer Keller, said the team was “very pleased” with a “swift and just verdict.”4Bloomberg Law. MGA’s OMG Dolls Cleared of Infringing Pop Group OMG Girlz Look The Harrises appealed, and the verdict was overturned after a Supreme Court ruling mandated a higher evidentiary weight for consumer confusion in trade dress cases.5Rolling Stone. T.I. Tiny OMG Girlz L.O.L. Surprise Dolls $71 Million MGA Copying
The third trial, in September 2024, went for the Harrises. A federal jury in Orange County found that MGA had knowingly copied the name, neon hair, and distinctive outfits of the OMG Girlz, awarding $17.9 million in compensatory damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages.6Forbes. Rapper T.I. and Wife Tiny Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Maker of L.O.L. Surprise Dolls
Why the Judge Cut the Punitive Damages
In January 2025, Judge Selna signaled in a tentative ruling that he intended to throw out the punitive damages portion.7Bloomberg Law. OMG Girlz Judge Poised to Slash Bulk of Jury Award in Doll Case In February he appeared to affirm the full award,8Fox 5 Atlanta. T.I. Tiny Harris Secure Major Legal Victory OMG Girlz Lawsuit but by July 2025 he formally vacated the $53.6 million in punitives. Selna found that the plaintiffs had failed to provide “clear and convincing evidence that MGA engaged in punishable conduct,” and wrote that there was “no reliable evidence that MGA had any knowledge of the group’s trade dress or desire to use their likeness to create the infringing dolls.”9Horvitz & Levy. District Court Cuts Punitive Damages to $1 in OMG Girlz Case
The judge gave the Harrises a choice: accept the $17.9 million compensatory award plus $1 in punitive damages, or retry the punitive damages question alone. On July 10, 2025, their lawyers rejected the $1 offer.10Legal Affairs and Trials. Judge Eliminates $53 Million in Punitive Damages in OMG Girlz Case
What Happens at the Fourth Trial
A fourth trial focused only on punitive damages was ordered. Before it can begin, the parties are fighting over whether a judge or a jury should decide the number at retrial. In November 2025, Judge Selna granted MGA’s request to certify an interlocutory appeal to the Ninth Circuit on that question, calling it a “disputable legal question” that should be resolved first.11Bloomberg Law. Ninth Circuit to Review if Fourth OMG Girlz Trial Requires Jury The Harrises have urged the court to move forward with a jury trial instead of adding appellate delay.12Law360. MGA Entertainment Inc. v. Clifford T.I. Harris Case Articles
As of mid-2026, the fourth trial was scheduled for June 23, 2026.5Rolling Stone. T.I. Tiny OMG Girlz L.O.L. Surprise Dolls $71 Million MGA Copying The $17.9 million compensatory award stands regardless of what the fourth jury (or judge) does with the punitive question.
Where the OMG Girlz Stand Now
The group reunited in 2023 with the single “Lover Boy,” followed by “Motion” in 2024 and “Tea” and “Make A Scene” in 2025.13Music Matters Magazine. OMG Girlz Debut First Headline Tour This Summer They performed at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival and launched “The Name Stays Tour,” presented by Coca-Cola and Pretty Hustle, in August 2025.14Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta’s OMG Girlz at Center of T.I. and Tiny Lawsuit Return for New Tour The tour name reads as a direct reference to the case still unfolding in federal court.