Death Row Records $107M Lawsuit Moves Forward with Summer Pretrial Conference Set
Lydia Harris' $107 million lawsuit against Death Row Records is moving forward, with a pretrial conference scheduled for June 27th. The lawsuit targets Snoop Dogg, Suge Knight, Jimmy Iovine, and Lucian Grainge, among others.
Man in black Death Row shirt
Harris, ex-wife of Death Row co-founder Michael Harris, claims she helped establish, finance, and operate Death Row Records during its early days while her then-husband was incarcerated. She maintained a significant ownership stake in the company during its rise to prominence.
In 2002, Harris sued Suge Knight for allegedly forcing her out of Death Row. The court ordered Knight to pay $107 million in 2005, but he declared bankruptcy shortly after. Harris reportedly accepted a $1 million "good-faith payment" from Knight around that time.
The current lawsuit alleges the defendants "engaged in a deliberate and coordinated scheme to obstruct justice, conceal assets, and evade liability." Harris specifically points to "strategic bankruptcy filings" designed to prevent enforcement of the 2005 judgment and protect assets from collection.
During a recent Bomb1st interview, Harris indicated her willingness to settle the case before trial, stating that a settlement was her "ultimate goal."
Suge Knight and Snoop facing camera
The timing of this lawsuit is particularly significant as Snoop Dogg acquired and relaunched Death Row Records in 2022, marking a new chapter in the label's complex history.