AceShowbiz - Snoop Dogg has filed new court documents asserting that his company is not responsible for the tragic death of Drakeo the Ruler at a 2021 Los Angeles hip-hop festival.

In motions submitted on Tuesday, May 19, Snoop Dogg and his company, Snoop Dogg’s LLC (SDLLC), are seeking to dismiss wrongful death claims related to the fatal stabbing of Drakeo the Ruler during the Once Upon a Time in LA festival in December 2021. The rapper, whose real name was Darrell Caldwell, was attacked backstage by a large group and died from stab wounds.

Following the incident, multiple negligence lawsuits were filed by Drakeo the Ruler’s family members, including his mother and brother. These suits accuse several entities involved with the event, such as Live Nation and C3 Presents, of failing to provide adequate security. The lawsuits also name SDLLC, claiming the company helped organize and promote the festival, thus bearing some responsibility for the security lapses that led to the fatal attack.

However, Snoop Dogg explicitly denies these allegations in his court declarations. The rapper, whose legal name is Calvin Broadus Jr., states that SDLLC “had no role in management of the festival” and “did not supervise security personnel” at the event.

Legal representatives for SDLLC further explain that the only contract between Snoop Dogg’s company and Once Upon a Time in LA was a $500,000 agreement for Snoop Dogg’s one-hour performance. They emphasize that this contract does not obligate SDLLC or the artist to manage the event or control the venue.

Supporting their stance, SDLLC’s attorneys point to video footage from the incident which they say “confirms SDLLC’s lack of involvement.” According to the legal memos, “no employee, agent or representative of SDLLC was present at the backstage area at the time of the altercation.”

The company is now requesting a summary judgment to end its participation in the lawsuit permanently. Lawyers representing Drakeo the Ruler’s mother and brother had not responded to requests for comment as of Wednesday, May 20, but they are expected to reply to the motion in writing in the coming months.

If SDLLC’s motion is denied, the claims against the company will proceed to a larger trial planned for September. That trial will address all wrongful death claims filed by Drakeo the Ruler’s mother, brother, and son. Besides SDLLC, defendants in the case include Live Nation, other festival promoters, and security personnel. Live Nation has denied any wrongdoing, stating that Drakeo the Ruler’s death was “unforeseeable.”

The lawsuits initially also named the operators of BMO Stadium, the venue hosting parts of the Once Upon a Time in LA festival. However, Judge James I. Montgomery dismissed those claims earlier this month, ruling that the stabbing occurred in an area of the festival grounds not owned by the stadium.

This ongoing litigation highlights the complex legal responsibilities surrounding large live events and the tragic consequences when security measures fall short. As the case moves forward, the courts will determine the extent to which the various parties involved bear liability for the fatal incident.