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Suge Knight To Pay $107 Million To Former Death-Row Founder
Marion "Suge" Knight has just been ordered to pay $107 million to a woman who helped him start Death Row Records and was owed profits after being forced out of the label.
After four years of legal battle, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sohigian ordered Knight, Death Row Records and Tha Row Inc. to pay Lydia Harris $45 million in economic damages, $2 million in non-economic damages and $60 million in punitive damages.
The verdict was reached after Sohigian discovered that Suge and his legal team violated court rules that ordered them to answer questions and submit information to the opposing counsel during the discovery process. The suit was filed in 2002, but never reached trial.
In her suit, Harris said that she and Suge became equal founding partners of Death Row in 1989 and that the mogul forced her out of the venture when he realized the label's profitable potential. Harris also accused Knight of defaming her in an attempt to tarnish her credibility in the music industry and with new artists.
"His conduct made it clear that he did not intend to honor his agreement or pay the shares of profit due her," Harris' attorney, David Casselman, said. "He also publicly insulted her and falsely accused her of promiscuity and incompetence."
Harris was Vice President of Death Row when the imprint was launched, but was later dismissed without knowing. Casselman said he plans to collect Harris' judgment by freezing Knight's assets. Suge's lawyer refused to comment yesterday and the infamous boss denied the accusations in court papers.
This settlement doesn't mark Knight's first major civil judgment. In 2003, he was ordered to pay $5.5 million to artist managers who claimed that Suge stole one of their acts. He's also been locked up three times in eight years on assault-related charges.
Michael "Harrio" Harris, Harris' husband, told The Los Angeles Times in 1997 that he had invested $1.5 million in 1991 for a half stake in an entertainment company dubbed GF Entertainment that would feature a division called Death Row. Suge denied Harris' claim. At the time, Harrio had already served 10 years of a 28-year sentence for selling crack cocaine and attempted murder, but asserted that he and his spouse negotiated contracts with major labels while he was incarcerated. He was sent to state prison in 1987. According to Casselman, Knight denied knowing Lydia Harris in the case's initial deposition. He later admitted to knowing her.
Source: sohh
After four years of legal battle, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sohigian ordered Knight, Death Row Records and Tha Row Inc. to pay Lydia Harris $45 million in economic damages, $2 million in non-economic damages and $60 million in punitive damages.
The verdict was reached after Sohigian discovered that Suge and his legal team violated court rules that ordered them to answer questions and submit information to the opposing counsel during the discovery process. The suit was filed in 2002, but never reached trial.
In her suit, Harris said that she and Suge became equal founding partners of Death Row in 1989 and that the mogul forced her out of the venture when he realized the label's profitable potential. Harris also accused Knight of defaming her in an attempt to tarnish her credibility in the music industry and with new artists.
"His conduct made it clear that he did not intend to honor his agreement or pay the shares of profit due her," Harris' attorney, David Casselman, said. "He also publicly insulted her and falsely accused her of promiscuity and incompetence."
Harris was Vice President of Death Row when the imprint was launched, but was later dismissed without knowing. Casselman said he plans to collect Harris' judgment by freezing Knight's assets. Suge's lawyer refused to comment yesterday and the infamous boss denied the accusations in court papers.
This settlement doesn't mark Knight's first major civil judgment. In 2003, he was ordered to pay $5.5 million to artist managers who claimed that Suge stole one of their acts. He's also been locked up three times in eight years on assault-related charges.
Michael "Harrio" Harris, Harris' husband, told The Los Angeles Times in 1997 that he had invested $1.5 million in 1991 for a half stake in an entertainment company dubbed GF Entertainment that would feature a division called Death Row. Suge denied Harris' claim. At the time, Harrio had already served 10 years of a 28-year sentence for selling crack cocaine and attempted murder, but asserted that he and his spouse negotiated contracts with major labels while he was incarcerated. He was sent to state prison in 1987. According to Casselman, Knight denied knowing Lydia Harris in the case's initial deposition. He later admitted to knowing her.
Source: sohh
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