By Tai Saint Louis
South Florida rapper Plies, born Algernod Washington, has been named as one of several defendants in a lawsuit filed by five Gainesville, FL residents in the Alachua County civil courthouse yesterday (Apr 8).
The five plaintiffs, who were all injured during a 2006 shooting at a Plies show, are seeking $10 million dollars in damages.
"If they're suing Mr. Washington, they're suing the wrong person," says his attorney Robert Rush, who also told the Gainesville Sun that he has yet to see the lawsuit. "He does not have legal liability. It is not an entertainer's job to provide security for a club where the entertainer is performing."
Also named in the lawsuit are Plies' label, Slip-N-Slide Records, and 283 West - the downtown Gainesville nightclub where Plies was performing at the time of the alleged incident, as well as others tied to the event.
The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of all those involved. According to reports, members of Plies' entourage fired into a sold-out crowd of close to 1,000 attendees after the rapper's microphone was shut off to allow the next performer, Lil' Boosie, to take the stage.
Two members of Plies' entourage - his brother Ronell Lavatte, 31 at the time, and then 21-year-old Tory Carnegie - were accused of firing at least three rounds and charged with attempted murder.
Upon completing a search of their vehicle, police found five loaded firearms and additional rounds of ammunition.
Plies and another member of his entourage, Keon Mc. Rae, were then charged with illegal possession of a concealed weapon.
Plies later pled no contest to the charge.