Drakeo The Ruler‘s brother has bypassed a potential obstacle in his lawsuit against Live Nation stemming from the rapper’s 2021 stabbing death in Los Angeles.
According to Rolling Stone, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Orozco has ruled in favor of Drakeo’s brother Devante Caldwell, dismissing a motion by Live Nation to have the case dismissed.
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In the motion, filed last July, the company claimed that it could not be held liable for the attack on the slain rapper, which took place backstage at the Once Upon A Time In L.A. festival in December 2021.
Live Nation maintained that it had no way to predict such an attack could happen, as no similar prior incident had happened at the Banc of California Stadium in L.A.’s Exposition Park, where the event was held. However, Orozco’s ruling listed a number of reasons to move forward with Devante Caldwell’s suit.
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“Although the occurrence of a mob/gang attack may have occurred for the first time, defendants may nevertheless be held liable if the facts show that the danger was foreseeable and/or preventable,” she wrote. “The fact that defendants knew security would be needed for the event supports the finding that the performing artists’ safety was a concern for defendants and foreseeable to defendants.”
The judge also pointed to Caldwell’s allegation that security at the venue failed to search every vehicle that entered the artist area, and that no security guards were posted in the all-access VIP area as cause to continue looking into Live Nation’s responsibility for Drakeo’s death.
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Orozco further stated that, while Live Nation may not have had prior knowledge that a “mob/gang attack” could happen backstage at the festival, the company’s on-site staff had a responsibility to stop the fight once it started; which they failed to do.
“Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that defendants acted with reckless disregard for the probability of causing emotional distress by virtue of failing to provide adequate security, failing to intervene during the attack, and preventing plaintiffs from reaching a place of safety,” Judge Orozo concluded.
Devante Caldwell filed suit against Live Nation in February 2022, on behalf of his brother, as well as himself and their Stinc Team crew, who were all targeted during the attack that claimed his brother’s life.
Caldwell, who also goes by Ralfy The Plug, believes the violent mob attack was orchestrated within minutes of his brother’s arrival and lasted for over 15 minutes. It took another 30 minutes for the “Talk to Me” rapper to receive medical attention.
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Additional lawsuits were also filed by Drakeo The Ruler’s mother Darrylene Corniel and his son Caiden Caldwell, both of which are also being overseen by Judge Yolanda Orozco.
She is expected to issue a similar ruling in both cases, as Live Nation had filed the same motion of “no liability” against the separate complaints.
