The attorney representing Ivan Cantu, a New York man ordered to pay Kim Kardashian more than $167,000 in legal fees after unsuccessfully suing her over a social media snafu, is speaking out about the court's ruling upholding the order. 

Cantu's previous argument that paying the entirety of Kardashian's legal fees would destroy him financially was called 'unavailing' by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge Monday.

But his lawyer Greg Sobo told the Daily Mail Tuesday that the 'ruling is not consistent with California law and is certain to be overturned.'

Sobo continued, 'We are proud to stand by Ivan Cantu, an innocent victim who was slandered,' in reference to Cantu's lawsuit against the reality star over a photo mix-up. 

Monday's ruling 'is simply one step in the process of obtaining justice against the rich and powerful,' Cantu's attorney told the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Kardashian, 45, for further comment on the story.

The incident initially unfolded in February of 2024, when Kardashian, 45, posted a picture on her social media of Cantu, who has the same name as a Texas death row inmate who had recently been executed following his conviction in a 2000 double murder.

While Kardashian claimed the error was an honest mistake and the photo was taken down quickly, Cantu, a New York native, sued Kardashian.

He told the court in a February 2025 filing that the star 'published and disseminated false information' about him that injured his reputation.

The defamation suit was dismissed in November and Kardashian had sought to recoup her legal fees from Cantu. 

Cantu previously asked a Los Angeles court to scuttle the reimbursement demand from Kardashian, after his case against her was dismissed, citing the discrepancies in their respective net worths.

But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Small on Monday said it was 'granting Kardashian’s motion in the main,' according to a ruling reviewed by the Daily Mail. 

Judge Small addressed Cantu's previous arguments, 'that it would be unfair for the court to make him pay Kardashian’s fees and costs because... she is wealthy and he is not,' calling them 'unavailing' on a legal basis.

The judge said that the court reduced the $57,107.50 total for 'fees upon fees' - a term for balances 'incurred in connection the motion for fees and costs itself' - by a third 'which comes out to $38,261.80.' 

The judge said while it may seem unusual 'that a person of modest financial means (as plaintiff says he is) would have to reimburse a person who has lots of money (as plaintiff says Kardashian has)', income disparities were 'irrelevant' to the question of legal fees. 

Kardashian's previous success in her anti-SLAPP motion against Cantu 'entitled [her] to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs,' the judge added.

While Kardashian prevailed in her case, the court of public opinion appeared to be a different matter, as she was slammed on the Kardashian's subreddit for aggressively pursuing the reimbursement of legal costs.

One user said, 'She’s petty for doing that. All the $ in the world and still requires more.'

Another user added, 'I love her but that is a horrible look for her. Greedy and petty af. Leaves a bad taste.'

After one commenter noted that 'celebs often do this to discourage other people from filing frivolous lawsuits against them,' a commenter defended the validity of Cantu's initial lawsuit.

'This didn’t really seem like a frivolous lawsuit,' the commenter said, noting that after Kardashian 'wrongfully used and posted [Cantu's] picture to her 300+ million followers on her Instagram, his family and friends were worried.'

The commenter urged Kardashian to relent on her pursuit of the payment after Cantu made clear how it would impact his life.

'I get he may have lost the suit and they do it to dissuade others from suing, but you’d think she’d let it go this ONE time since they royally messed up and that amount is unattainable to pay for most people ( and absolutely NOTHING for her),' the commenter said. 'I hope they can at least work something out ( but am doubtful).'

Attorneys for Kardashian said in legal documents reviewed by the Daily Mail last month that Cantu filed what amounted to 'a clearly meritless lawsuit' after she mistakenly identified him as a death row inmate with the same name.

Cantu, in suing Kardashian, had been 'seeking to thwart [her] constitutional right to engage in protected speech regarding matters of criminal justice reform,' her legal team said in the filing.

Lawyers for the reality star - whose net worth has been estimated at more than $1.9 billion - said Cantu miscalculated when he 'thought he could force a payout based on her celebrity and wealth... but his gambit failed, and now he refuses to accept the consequences of his actions.'

Kardashian's legal team said that Cantu's request to scuttle the reimbursement fees goes against California legal statutes, as she is 'entitled to recover her reasonable prevailing-party attorneys’ fees and costs, along with fees on fees.'

Cantu 'has not presented a single valid argument against the imposition of fees in this case ... nor has he offered any viable basis for reducing the amount of Kardashian’s fee request,' her lawyers said.

Attorneys for Kardashian said Cantu is asking the court 'to disregard California law’s mandatory imposition of attorneys’ fees against him based on appeals for sympathy and unsupported claims of inability to pay' and irrelevant allusions to 'Kardashian’s wealth.'

Cantu told the court in a February 2025 filing that the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star 'published and disseminated false information' about him that injured his reputation.

He said in his filing that Kardashian's posting of the wrong picture on such an important issue 'was clearly untrue, erroneous, unfounded, shocking, scandalous, degrading, disgraceful, and/or shameful.'

Attorneys for Kardashian - who is currently linked to F1 driver Lewis Hamilton - told the Daily Mail the misidentification was a 'simple mistake' that sprung from 'Kim’s longstanding commitment to the cause of criminal justice reform.'

'The image was taken down almost immediately once the error was discovered,' her team added.

Cantu claimed libel, emotional distress, slander, invasion of privacy, negligence and being portrayed in a false light, asking the court to award compensatory and punitive damages.

His lawyer Sobo subsequently told the Daily Mail that it was incumbent on Kardashian to 'know the power of social media.'

'For too long, we have seen social media cause devastating injuries to innocent victims. Social media is too often abused to bully the innocent, incite harm, and injure our communities,' Sobo said.

'Just like those who cause physical harm should be held accountable, those who cause injuries to innocent victims through social media must also be held responsible.'

A federal judge dismissed the case last November, saying that 'the hitch for the plaintiff is that he failed to provide [evidence] ... that he suffered any injury as a result of Kardashian's misappropriation of his likeness.' 

Attorneys for Kardashian told TMZ at the time they were 'pleased with the court’s ruling' and appreciated its 'recognition that an honest mistake committed in the course of Ms Kardashian’s exercise of free speech does not serve as the basis for meritless litigation.' 

The dismissal paved the way for Kardashian to seek recoupment with her legal filing.

Cantu, in a filing last week reviewed by the Daily Mail, claimed Kardashian 'labeled him a criminal to her 350+ million followers ... at a very sensitive time in his life, causing anxiety and depression.'

Cantu said that Kardashian was 'born and raised in great wealth and luxury' and 'enjoys substantial income and wealth through sponsors of her social media posts due to a large number of followers.'

He said in a prior court filing reviewed by Daily Mail, 'While some of her posts may concern social causes, most of her posts published sponsored products and services and celebrity news.'

Sobo told the Daily Mail that Cantu is a 'very private family man with two daughters' who had been dealing with a personal tragedy in his life at the time Kardashian posted his picture to social media.

'As a result of the Kardashian abuse, Mr Cantu’s privacy was destroyed at a most critical and sensitive time, and he has suffered very real trauma that will last a lifetime,' the lawyer said.

Sobo previously told the Daily Mail that 'if there is any issue that shows the true character of this defendant, it is this one.

'Having wrongfully and publicly accused an innocent man of a crime he did not commit, causing him anxiety and suffering, she now attempts to use her wealth and power to take further advantage of the judicial system by collecting an inflated judgment that is meaningless to her.'

Sobo told Daily Mail that 'while the judicial system often favors the rich and powerful, we remain confident that Mr Cantu’s claim will ultimately prevail, and it will indeed be the defendant who pays.' 

The total awarded to Kardashian was $167,473.69.