L.A. Rejects $18 Million Settlement for Rapper's Death
By Matt Green
Published on August 22, 2005
On Aug. 17, council members rejected the proposal in closed session.
In the lawsuit, Notorious B.I.G.'s family accuses a corrupt Los Angeles police officer of organizing Notorious' murder in 1997.
A judge recently declared the civil case a mistrial because a Los Angeles Police Department detective withheld evidence supporting the family's case.
As punishment, a judge ordered the city to pay the family's legal fees for the previous trial. Notorious' family plans to file for a new trial.
Notorious (real name Christopher Wallace) was shot to death at age 24 while leaving an awards show after-party in Los Angeles. The New York native is considered one of the most influential rappers of all-time, creating classic hip-hop songs such as "Hypnotize" and "Big Poppa."
The lawsuit says Death Row Records founder Marion "Suge" Knight asked a corrupt police officer to arrange the killing. The suit suggests that Knight sought revenge against Notorious because he believed Notorious' associates killed Death Row rapper 2Pac.
No evidence links Notorious to 2Pac's murder. Also, Knight and former officers have never been arrested in connection with Notorious' murder.
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