Afeni Shakur, the mother of slain gangsta rap artist Tupac
Shakur has filed a wrongful death suit against Orlando
Anderson, a reputed member of the Los Angeles-based gang,
the Crips. On Sept. 7, 1996, Anderson was involved in a
fist-fight with Tupac Shakur and his entourage at Las
Vegas's MGM Grand Hotel shortly before Shakur was gunned
down in a drive-by shooting. Shakur died six days later.
Although Anderson is not considered a suspect in the
murder by the Las Vegas Police Department, Afeni Shakur
believes he had a role in her son's death. Here is the
complaint filed Sept. 12, 1997:
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DONALD
DAVID
FISCHBEIN BADILLO WAGNER HARDING
909 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 826-2000
STEPHEN T.
OWENS, Bar No. 82601
JOAN H. CHO, Bar No. 186234
GRAHAM & JAMES LLP
801 South Figueroa Street, 14th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017-5554
Telephone: (213) 624-2500
Facsimile: (213) 623-4581
Attorneys
for Plaintiffs
AFENI SHAKUR, individually and as Co-administrator
of the Estate of Tupac Shakur, deceased, and
RICHARD S. FISCHBEIN, as co-administrator of the Estate of
Tupac Shakur
SUPERIOR
COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
AFENI
SHAKUR, individually and as
Co-administrator of the Estate of
Tupac Shakur, deceased; and
RICHARD S. FISCHBEIN, as
Co-administrator of the Estate
of Tupac Shakur,
Plaintiffs,
-vs. -
ORLANDO ANDERSON, JERRY BONDS,
and DOES 1 to 100, inclusive,
Defendants.
CASE NO. BC
177861
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES:
1. WRONGFUL
DEATH
2. PERSONAL INJURY
3. GROSS NEGLIGENCE
COME NOW
Plaintiffs AFENI SHAKUR, individually and as
co-administrator of the Estate of Tupac Shakur, and
RICHARD S. FISCHBEIN, as co-administrator of the Estate of
Tupac Shakur, and, for their causes of actions against the
defendants, allege as follows:
THE PARTIES
Plaintiff AFENI SHAKUR ("Afeni") is the mother
of the deceased, Tupac Shakur ("Tupac"). During
all times mentioned herein, Tupac was a resident of Los
Angeles County, State of California.
Pursuant to
Letters of Administration of the Superior Court of
California for the County of Los Angeles, dated October
23, 1996, Afeni was appointed co-administrator of the
Estate of Tupac Shakur (the "Estate").
Pursuant to
Letters of Administration of the Superior Court of
California for the County of Los Angeles, dated October
23, 1996, RICHARD S. FISCHBEIN ("Fischbein") was
appointed co-administrator of the Estate.
Defendant
ORLANDO ANDERSON, ("Anderson") is, and was at
all times mentioned herein, a resident of the State of
California. Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and
thereon allege, that at all times mentioned herein,
Anderson was a member of a Compton street gang known as
the Southside Crips.
Defendant
JERRY BONDS, ("Bonds") is, and was at all times
mentioned herein, a resident of the State of California.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that at all times mentioned herein, Bonds was a member of
a Compton street gang known as the Southside Crips, and is
known by the street name "MONK. "
Plaintiffs
are informed and believe, and thereon allege, that
Defendants Bond, Does 1 to 3, inclusive, and Anderson
were, on or about September 7, 1996, the driver and
passengers in a certain white Cadillac vehicle discussed
with more particularity hereinafter. Plaintiffs are
informed and believe, and thereon allege, that Doe 1 was
also the individual with Bond on September 11, 1996, at
approximately 3:00 p. m. , when Bond and Doe 1 drove a
late model Cadillac into the automotive shop at White and
Alondra.
Plaintiffs
are informed and believe, and thereon allege, that Bond
and Anderson are cousins.
Plaintiffs
are informed and believe, and thereon allege, that DOES 4
to 100, inclusive, participated with Defendants Anderson,
Bond and Does 1 to 3 in the shooting of Tupac, as more
fully described hereafter, and conspired with and assisted
Defendants Anderson, Bond and Does 1 to 3, inclusive, in
that shooting.
Plaintiffs
are presently unaware of the true names and identities
and/or capacities of the defendants named herein as Does 1
to 100, inclusive, and therefore sue these defendants by
such fictitious names. Plaintiffs will allege the true
names and capacities after the same have been ascertained.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that each defendant Doe is negligently or otherwise
responsible and liable to Plaintiffs for the injuries
and/or damages alleged herein.
Plaintiffs
are informed and believe, and thereon allege, that at all
times mentioned herein, each defendant herein, whether
designated by name or by Doe, is and was the agent,
employee, employer and/or joint venturer or co-conspirator
with each of the other defendants and in doing the things
alleged herein was acting in the course and scope of such
relationship, agency and employment and for the
furtherance of such conspiracy, and was acting with the
prior knowledge, permission and consent, or that each of
said defendants acquiesced in the conduct of each of the
other defendants.
GENERAL
ALLEGATIONS
During his
lifetime, Tupac was an extremely successful music
publishing, recording and performing artist, as well as a
successful motion picture actor. Among the albums
published by Tupac during his lifetime were: "Thug
Life," "Strictly 4 My N. I. G. G. A. Z. ,"
"2Pacalypse Now" and "All Eyez On Me.
" Subsequent to Tupac's death, Death Row Records,
Inc. ("Death Row"), Tupac's record company,
released "Makavelli," an album that immediately
became number one on the charts and sold over 3 million
copies.
13. Tupac
appeared as an actor in "Juice," "Above the
Rim," "Poetic Justice" and "Bullet.
" Subsequent to his death, "Gridlock'd" was
released to favorable critical reviews and "Gang
Related" is scheduled to be released this fall.
14.
Moreover, his songs were featured in numerous soundtracks
from movies in which he did not appear as an actor.
EVENTS
LEADING UP TO THE SHOOTING
15.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that, in approximately July, 1996, Travon Lane (who goes
by the street name "Tray")("Lane"), a
person associated with Death Row Records, Inc.
("Death Row"), was in the Foot Locker Store in
the Lakewood Mall, with Kevin Woods (who goes by the
street name "K. W. ")("Woods") and
Maurice Combs (who goes by the street name "Lil
Mo") ("Combs").
16.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that Lane, Woods and Combs are associated with a street
gang that goes by the name of "Mob Pirus," which
is a branch of the street gang known as the "Bloods.
"
17.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that the Southside Crips have an ongoing rivalry with the
Mob Pirus and that there have been several past
confrontations between the Mob Pirus and the Southside
Crips.
18.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that there was a common perception that Death Row was in
some manner affiliated with the Mob Pirus.
19.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that Lane had received a distinctive and much prized
necklace from Marion "Suge" Knight ("Suge"),
the president and CEO of Death Row, which symbolized
Lane's affiliation with Death Row.
20.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that, at the Foot Locker Store, Lane was confronted by
members of the Southside Crips, fought with them and the
Crips took Lane's Death Row necklace.
21. On
September 7, 1996, Suge, Tupac and other persons
associated with Death Row were at the MGM Grand Hotel in
Las Vegas, Nevada, attending the Mike Tyson fight.
22.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that some members of the Death Row entourage, such as
Lane, were alleged to be affiliated with the Bloods street
gang.
23.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that also present at the Mike Tyson fight were members of
the Southside Crips, who had been observed by those
members of the Death Row entourage who were alleged to be
affiliated with the Bloods.
24.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that Anderson was one of the Crips members who was present
at the fight and who was observed by the Death Row
entourage.
25.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that Anderson was observed in the lobby of the MGM Grand
by Lane and identified by Lane as the person who had taken
his necklace at the shopping mall.
26.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that the members of the Death Row entourage then asked
Anderson whether he had taken Lane's necklace and a fight
ensued. That fight was broken up by hotel security and the
Death Row entourage left.
THE
SHOOTING
27.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that thereafter, but still on September 7, 1996, the Death
Row group formed a caravan of several cars heading to the
"662 Club," which was owned by Suge.
28. Suge
and Tupac were in the first vehicle, a BMW owned by Suge.
29.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that some of the people in the vehicles which followed
were Alton MacDonald, Roger Williams, Henry Smith, Allen
Jordan, Lane and "Frank. "
30. The
caravan stopped for a red light at Flamingo and Las Vegas
Boulevard, when a white Cadillac pulled up next to Tupac
and Suge.
31. There
were at least two, and possibly more, people in the
Cadillac.
32.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that Bonds was the driver of that Cadillac and Anderson
was a passenger in the Cadillac.
33.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that Anderson got out of the Cadillac and approached the
BMW on the passenger's side.
34.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege,
that, upon approaching the BMW, Anderson pulled a gun and
started shooting at the BMW, willfully or negligently
striking both Tupac and Suge.
35. Tupac
was taken to the University Medical Center of Southern
Nevada immediately after the shooting and was admitted to
the UMC Regional Trauma Center.
36. Tupac's
injuries included gunshot wounds to the right chest, the
right thigh and the right hand.
37. Tupac
died on September 13, 1996. Plaintiffs are informed and
believe, and thereon allege, that Tupac died as a result
of the gunshot wounds he suffered in the shooting by
Anderson.
FIRST CAUSE
OF ACTION
(For Wrongful Death Against All Defendants)
38.
Plaintiffs incorporate paragraphs 1 to 37 and reallege the
same as if fully set forth at length herein.
39. On or
about or about September 7, 1996, Anderson discharged a
gun in a willful and/or reckless and/or negligent manner,
causing Tupac to be shot and thereby causing him serious
grievous injuries requiring hospitalization and leading to
his eventual demise on September 13, 1996.
40. The
discharge of that gun was a part of, and in furtherance
of, a conspiracy and joint venture in which Anderson,
Bonds and Does 1 to 100, inclusive, were participants, to
do injury to and intimidate, Tupac, Suge and Death Row.
41. Prior
to the death of Tupac, Afeni was totally dependent on him
for her support and maintenance. As a result of the
injuries to the decedent and his eventual death, Afeni has
sustained profound grief, special and general damages,
including hospital bills, loss of income, loss of society,
comfort, attention, service and support of decedent, and
have incurred funeral and cremation expenses.
SECOND
CAUSE OF ACTION
(For Personal Injury [Survival Action] Against All
Defendants)
42.
Plaintiffs incorporate paragraphs 1 to 41 and reallege the
same as if fully set forth at length herein.
43. As a
result of said conduct injuries, Tupac suffered extreme
pain, discomfort and injury from the moment of his injury
to the moment of his death. In addition thereto, the
decedent and his estate incurred medical bills for his
hospitalization and lost earnings and loss of income from
the date of his injury to the moment of his death.
44. The
decedent during his lifetime was entitled to compensation
for the damages described in the above paragraph and
Plaintiffs Afeni Shakur and Richard S. Fischbein, as
co-administrators, are claiming said damages for his
estate.
THIRD CAUSE
OF ACTION
(By Plaintiff Afeni Shakur For Gross Negligence Against
All Defendants)
45.
Plaintiffs incorporate paragraphs 1 to 44 and reallege the
same as if fully set forth at length herein.
46. At all
times herein mentioned, Anderson acted in a wanton and
reckless and/or grossly negligent manner in discharging a
weapon at the vehicle in which Tupac was riding. Anderson
knew, or should have known that the discharge of such
weapon would expose Tupac to serious injuries.
Notwithstanding this knowledge, Anderson in wanton,
reckless and/or grossly negligent disregard of the safety
of Tupac, discharged his weapon in the direction of the
vehicle in which Tupac was riding, shooting Tupac, causing
him severe and serious injuries and death several days
thereafter.
47. Prior
to the death of Tupac, Afeni was totally dependent on him
for her support and maintenance. As a result of the
injuries to the decedent and his eventual death, Afeni has
sustained profound grief, special and general damages,
including hospital bills, loss of income, loss of society,
comfort, attention, service and support of decedent, and
has incurred funeral and cremation expenses.
WHEREFORE,
plaintiffs pray for judgment as follows:
On the
First Cause of Action, for Wrongful Death Against All
Defendants:
1. For general and special damages according to proof;
2. For funeral and cremation expenses according to proof;
3. For medical and related expenses according to proof;
4. For loss of earnings according to proof;
5. For loss of support according to proof;
6. For profound grief according to proof.
On the
Second Cause of Action, for Personal Injury (Survival
Action) Against All Defendants:
7. For general damages according to proof;
8. For pain and suffering according to proof;
On the
Third Cause of Action, for Gross Negligence Against All
Defendants:
9. For general and special damages according to proof;
10. For funeral and cremation expenses according to proof;
11. For medical and related expenses according to proof;
12. For loss of earnings according to proof;
13. For loss of support according to proof;
14. For profound grief according to proof.
Dated:
September 12, 1997
Respectfully
submitted,
DONALD DAVID
FISCHBEIN BADILLO WAGNER HARDING
and-
STEPHEN T.
OWENS
JOAN H. CHO
GRAHAM & JAMES LLP
By
________________________________
Stephen T. Owens
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
AFENI
SHAKUR, individually and as Co-administrator of the Estate
of Tupac Shakur, deceased, and RICHARD S. FISCHBEIN, as
co-administrator of the Estate of Tupac Shakur
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