Despite being cleared of assaulting a fan at a 2005 concert, the man who sued rapper Snoop Dogg will still receive compensation for injuries suffered from the incident.
Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle Records, rapper Soopafly and other unnamed parties will pay Richard Monroe Jr. nearly $449,000 in damages, a jury found on Friday (May 8) after determining that Monroe suffered major injuries from the assault.
Soopafly (born Priest Brooks) was among those involved in the incident.
"We're very pleased that the jury found that this incident was not something to be taken lightly," Monroe's attorney, Brian E. Watkins, said. Friday’s decision marks the end of two weeks of testimony surrounding Monroe’s 2006 lawsuit against Snoop Dogg (born Calvin Broadus).
Although Monroe’s attorneys claimed the rapper hit their client with a microphone during the ordeal, a video shown during the trial disputed the argument.
The clip, which showed Snoop Dogg performing his hit song “Gin and Juice,” did not show rapper hitting Monroe.
Monroe is tackled by security in the video after putting his arm around Snoop Dogg.
Monroe revealed during the trial that he thought he had been invited onstage during the show, which took place at the White River Amphitheater near Seattle.
According to reports, Monroe later woke up after the assault, dazed, in a pool of blood and with his pants ripped off.
He told investigators that the men who beat him also poured their drinks, which appeared to be a mix of gin and juice, on him during the beating. Jurors were shown pictures of Monroe’s swollen face following the concert.
Snoop Doggs' attorneys countered Monroe's version of the incident by arguing that his recollection of events changed over time and.
In addition, the lawyers told jurors that Monroe did not immediately reveal to investigators after the ordeal that Snoop Dogg hit him with his microphone.
That rap star testified earlier in the civil trial that he did not assault Monroe as he described and identified performers and security personnel who were seen struggling with Monroe on the video.
Snoop Dogg further stated that he quickly left the stage to go to his tour bus before the incident was over.
Snoop Dogg was not in court on Friday when the verdict was handed down.
The jury’s decision to award the nearly $449,000 payment to Monroe fell short of the $ 22 million he had sought from the entertainer.
