Mother Of Slain Rapper Drakeo the Ruler Sues Live Nation Over Backstage Stabbing

LOS ANGELES, CA — A judge has ruled that Live Nation and a second event promotion company do not have to release to the mother of the late Drakeo the Ruler pretrial information on the financial conditions of both companies as part of her lawsuit stemming from the death of her son, who was stabbed to death backstage during a 2021 concert in Exposition Park.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James I. Montgomery issued a five- page ruling on Thursday, stating that he was not convinced by arguments made by attorneys for Darrylene Corniel, the rapper's mother, and the singer's estate that they should have access to the information at this time from Live Nation Worldwide Inc. and C3 Presents LLC.

"Plaintiff contends that it has shown a substantial probability that the estate will prevail on a claim for punitive damages by a finding of malice and oppression," the judge wrote. "However, the court is not persuaded by plaintiff's argument."

In their court papers in opposition to the estate's request, defense attorneys wrote that "stripped of its rhetoric, the estate's motion is a premises-security negligence case dressed up as intentional wrongdoing. It is not the base, vile, and contemptible conduct, undertaken with actual knowledge of probable catastrophic consequences that the punitive-damages statute demands."

Far from despicable, the undisputed record shows a substantial, good- faith commitment to safety, according to the Live Nation/C3 lawyers' pleadings. Both retained a specialized security-consulting firm that designed dozens of large-event security systems to assess the risk, design the plan, select and coordinate the licensed vendors and coordinate with law enforcement, the companies' attorneys' court papers stated.

The 28-year-old Drakeo's real name was Darrell Caldwell. He was attacked after a fight broke out behind the main stage of the Once Upon A Time in LA music festival on Dec. 18, 2021, and died later at a hospital.

According to the promoters' attorneys' court papers, video footage within the pleadings depicts Drakeo as having "a clear path to retreat from the altercation and temporarily reaching a point of safety. There is zero question (Drakeo) was fully aware of the real risks associated with re-engaging in the fight and he chooses to do so anyway."

Under the circumstances, any and all responsibility as to Live Nation and C3 Present "was forever severed," according to the promoters' lawyers' pleadings.

The lawsuit's other plaintiffs include the hip-hop artist's only son, a minor. The original complaint was filed in February 2022 and trial is scheduled Nov. 30.

The venue was called Banc of California Stadium at the time of the stabbing, but was later renamed BMO Stadium.

Drakeo was a Los Angeles native who released 10 mixtapes since 2015 and put out his first studio album titled "I Am Mr. Mosely" in April 2017. Critics have cited his unique flow and "oddly expressive, poetic word choices."

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