“You have to lose some battles to win a war.” That was Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder, Dame Dash’s, social media response to the news that a jury ruled against him in a copyright infringement and defamation lawsuit on Wednesday March 30.

Dash has been ordered to pay a total of $805,000 to director Josh Webber and Muddy Water Pictures. At the center of the suit, according to All Hip Hop, is the motion picture Dear Frank, and Dash’s alleged promotion of himself as producer after he was removed from the project. Dash allegedly shopped the movie to networks under the name The List. On his postings he used the hash tags #fatliars and #youllneverbeme, and closed with “Don’t ever say you directed MY movie.”

Dash was hired by Muddy Water Pictures in 2016 to co-direct Dear Frank, and fired two years later for being high on the set, the filmmakers alleged in 2019 when the lawsuit was filed.

Director Josh Webber also responded via social media, simply posting: ”Case Closed" @duskopoppington #dearfrankmovie along with the clown emoticon.

Muddy Water Pictures was awarded $30,000 for copyright infringement and $125,000 in punitive damages. Webber received $400,000 in compensatory damages for defamation and $250,000 in punitive damages.