Imprisoned rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight was sued Tuesday by a law firm alleging he fraudulently sold or gave away property to avoid paying more than $140,000 a judge had ordered him to pay the firm. Knight, who is currently serving a 10-month prison sentence, had been ordered to pay nearly $142,000 to the law firm of Kopple and Klinger last May for services the firm provided.
In the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the firm claims Knight has never paid the debt and has sold or transferred at least four properties in the Los Angeles area for little or no compensation to friends to “hinder, delay or defraud” his creditors.
The firm is seeking payment for May’s judgment and trying to prevent the properties Knight allegedly transferred from being sold.
Knight, who has been in custody since June 27, was found guilty of violating his parole last month for striking a Hollywood nightclub valet. Knight’s spokesperson said he had not seen the suit and declined to comment. An attorney representing the firm also declined to comment.
The properties, located in Beverly Hills, Malibu and Los Angeles’ Encino section, were transferred starting in 1999, the suit alleges.
In one case, Knight and his MHK Investment company gave away a property in the upscale Encino section for “no valuable consideration,” according to the lawsuit. The recipient was aware of Knight’s “deteriorating” financial and legal situation, the suit added. It remained unclear whether the properties were homes or businesses.Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.