Co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, Suge Knight, has been incarcerated since December 2018 and is ineligible for parole until 2034. As many rap music enthusiasts in New York and across the country know, Knight went to prison in connection with the death of Terry Carter, a business colleague, with whom Knight had argued with over compensation he was to receive for his work on the movie “Straight Outta Compton.” Carter’s widow and two daughters later filed a wrongful death claim against Knight for running over their loved one with a pickup truck and killing him.
When immediate family members file a wrongful death claim, it is heard by a civil court judge. It is imperative for plaintiffs in such cases to present solid, detailed evidence to convince the judge or jury that the defendant named in a particular case acted with negligence, recklessness or malice to bring about the death of a loved one. Recent news headlines in the Suge Knight wrongful death case stated that the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision, which prompted the judge to rule a mistrial.
Knight pleaded no contest in 2018
Before going to prison in 2018, Knight pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Terry Carter. The former football player also admitted using his vehicle as a deadly weapon during commission of a crime. During the wrongful death civil suit, Knight’s testimony was heard through a virtual electronic device.
What happens if a jury is deadlocked in a wrongful death claim?
If a New York resident files a wrongful death claim on behalf of a deceased loved one, and the court orders a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury, it is not necessarily the end of the road for the family’s seeking of justice. In the Suge Knight case, for instance, the family of the decedent says that they plan to refile their wrongful death claim. Those considering filing similar claims may want to seek experienced legal guidance before heading to court.