Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Suge Knight

 Posted on June 29, 2015 in Wrongful Death

The filming of a commercial for the upcoming film "Straight Outta Compton" turned deadly on California streets in January 2015 when a dispute erupted among Suge Knight, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and other workers near the set. Knight, age 50, appeared uninvited at the commercial shoot, and the resulting fight ended with Terry Carter dead and three other people injured after Knight ran them down with his truck in the parking lot of a Los Angeles burger restaurant.

Carter's family has filed a wrongful death suit against Knight, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Universal Studios, and other named defendants. The lawsuit named the movie studio because it allowed the commercial to be shot in a dangerous neighborhood and also allegedly allowed gang members to be hired for security. Negligent hiring and premises liability are the basis for the claims against Universal .

Dre and Knight had at one time been business partners, founding the rap label Death Row Records. Their subsequent falling out was so severe that Dre eventually won a restraining order against Knight. Knight, whose real name is Marion Hugh Knight Jr., also faces criminal charges for Carter's death. Claiming self-defense, he has pleaded not guilty. In the civil wrongful death action, the family is seeking compensation for funeral bills, lost income and punitive and other damages.

Family members of a person who has died because of another party's negligent or intentional actions may want to discuss a wrongful death claim with an attorney. Pedestrian accidents form only one category of incidents that might involve a driver's negligence. An attorney might review the results of a police investigation to determine whether such an action seeking damages for the losses sustained should be filed.

Source: Courthouse News Service, "Wrongful Death Suit Details Suge-Dre Rift", Matt Reynolds, June 5, 2015