*The lawsuit involving Live Nation over Drakeo the Ruler’s backstage murder during the Once Upon a Time music festival in Los Angeles will move forward, a judge has ruled.
We reported earlier that the LA-bred rapper, 28, died after being stabbed at the Once Upon a Time in L.A. music festival in December 2021. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, Drakeo’s mother, Darrylene Corniel, revealed her plans to sue over the death of her son. She also said that he was attacked when a fight erupted backstage after forty to sixty people rushed Drakeo when YG appeared in the area.
“He was hit in his neck. I saw him when I went to the hospital. They said it’s a homicide, so I wasn’t able to hug him or kiss him or anything like that. I had to look at him through a window,” said Corniel. “I need this to be out there. I need people to know. And I do want justice for my son. And I do believe that justice will be served. I will not rest until justice is served.”
According to Black Twitter, YG’s crew clashed with members of Drakeo’s crew and the rising star was stabbed during the melee.
READ MORE: Drakeo the Ruler’s Mother to Take Legal Action Over His Death – ‘We Plan to Sue’
Drakeo The Ruler, real name Darrell Caldwell, was with his younger brother, rapper Ralfy The Plug, backstage at the time of the fight.
As Digital Music News reports, in the lawsuit filed against Live Nation last year, the company is accused of knowing Drakeo the Ruler faced credible threats and “failed to implement proper safety procedures” by beefing up security for the festival.
Live Nation, in its response to the lawsuit, reportedly said Drakeo nor his team requested more security and also noted that no similar violent incidents have occurred at the Banc of California Stadium, where the festival took place, so they could not have anticipated the Drakeo incident.
Here’s more from Digital Music News:
The judge overseeing the lawsuit from both the rapper’s brother, mother, and son ruled that the plaintiffs pleaded sufficient facts to move the case forward to trial. “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,” LA County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Orozco writes in her ruling.
“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,” she continues. The lack of adequate search of persons entering backstage, vehicles entering, and no security for the VIP area could be enough to show negligence on Live Nation’s part.
“Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that defendants breached a duty in failing to act in stopping the mob/gang attack once it began, Judge Orozco continues
