S. Samuel
Southern rapper Rick Ross has addressed his recent $300,000 lawsuit loss to DJ Vlad and why he was really a victim in the situation.
According to “The Boss,” he was not physically involved in Vlad’s 2008 assault.
“I ain’t even fight,” Ross told radio personality Greg Street. “I ain’t even fight, I’m a victim like your momma always said. It’s a beautiful thing though you know. It’s New York, they try to sell you homie. They were trying to hit the boy for four of them big ones. It ain’t work though. Had defense, had to fight the power.” (“The Greg Street Show”)
Earlier this month, Ross said he felt like the victor after escaping the lawsuit’s original $4 million demand.
“I’ve been fighting a $4 million lawsuit for the last two years,” Ross said. “My defense was a success. I’ve got to salute Xavier Donaldson, my attorney. Whenever an artist or anybody is put in a position such as a lawsuit in this capacity, so much evidence is represented — videotapes, what have you — to be able to walk out of a courtroom giving the plaintiff less than 10 percent of what he requested, I consider my defense a success. God bless America! The lawsuit is done. Even though I plan to appeal the decision, I thank the courts for the monetary decision that they made. They were extremely lenient, I appreciate that. It’s back to the businessfor the boss.” (MTV)
Details on the ruling became public last week.
A Manhattan federal jury found Ross liable for his crew breaking Vlad “DJ Vlad” Lyubovny’s eye socket at the Ozone Awards in Houston, Texas, in 2008. Ross’ crew was furious that Vlad Lyubovny had reported Ross was a correction officer before he became a hard-core rapper. The jury awarded Lyubovny $50,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages for the assault. (New York Daily News)
Last year, Vlad opened up about being assaulted by Ross’ entourage.
“There was a certain degree of [embarrassment]. But at the end of the day we all human, and it could happen to anyone.” Vlad said. “I go harder now…I don’t give a f—, and that’s my word. When you go through something, you’re either gonna run and hide and leave the business altogether, or you go that much harder. And I go that much harder now.” (The Boom Box)
Check out Rick Ross speaking on the lawsuit loss below:
