Marion “Suge” Knight, the former CEO of Death Row Records, has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Terry Carter. Carter was fatally struck by Knight’s truck in 2015 during a confrontation near the set of the film Straight Outta Compton.
The settlement concludes a prolonged legal battle following Knight’s 2018 no contest plea to voluntary manslaughter. He is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for the incident.
Legal Proceedings and Settlement
The civil lawsuit, initiated by Carter’s widow, Lillian, and daughters, Crystal and Nekaya, sought $81 million in damages. Their attorney, Lance Behringer, argued that each family member deserved $1 million for every year Carter might have lived had he not been killed. Behringer stated, “Dying on the concrete floor alone at Tam’s Burgers was not a natural death. He was taken from these three women.”
In October 2024, the case ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked 7-5 in favor of the plaintiffs, falling short of the nine votes required for a verdict.
The recent $1.5 million settlement, though significantly less than the amount initially sought, brings closure to the family. Details of the agreement remain confidential, and representatives for the Carter family have not commented publicly.
Incident Background
On January 29, 2015, Knight was involved in a confrontation with Cle “Bone” Sloan, a security consultant for the film Straight Outta Compton. Knight claimed he acted in self-defense, attempting to flee when he struck both Sloan and Carter with his vehicle. Sloan survived with injuries; Carter did not.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, contradicting Knight’s self-defense claim. In 2018, Knight pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and admitted to using a deadly weapon—his truck—in the commission of the crime. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
Broader Implications
This settlement adds to Knight’s history of legal troubles. In 2005, he was ordered to pay $107 million to Lydia Harris, who claimed she helped found Death Row Records. Knight filed for bankruptcy shortly after that judgment.
The Carter family’s legal team emphasized the emotional toll of the prolonged legal process. While the settlement does not equate to the value of a lost life, it provides a measure of closure.
Knight remains incarcerated, with no public statements regarding the settlement. The Carter family has also refrained from public comment following the agreement.