Former hip hop mogul Suge Knight is reportedly suing Kanye West over a shooting at a party ahead of the 2005 MTV VMAs in Miami. Former Death Row chief Knight was injured during a shoot-out that occurred at the party, and according to TMZ.com he says West is liable because his security reps let the never-caught gunman into the venue.
Knight was shot in the leg during the shoot out (some speculated at the time he'd actually shot himself by accident during the fracas) and he is suing West for the cost of the medical treatment required after the incident, and the cost of flying across the country to receive that treatment back in California.
The lawsuit also mentions a diamond stud earring worth $135,000 that Knight claims he lost during the shooting - there are some reports he claims one of West's entourage picked up the jewel and promised to look after it for him. In an amusing choice of words, the lawsuit apparently asks for damages for "the loss of use and enjoyment of the earring".
Knight, of course, lost what was left of his Death Row empire after declaring himself bankrupt after losing a legal battle with one of the label's co-founders, who claimed she had been denied her share of the hip hop firm's profits. It's been reported that Knight has negotiated with the bankruptcy courts so that he could keep a portion of any damages paid out in relation to the Kanye West lawsuit, though some legal experts doubt he'd win anything if the case went to court - people involved in organising the party might, however, settle out of court for an easy life.
West is yet to respond.