A former Death Row Records executive has filed a $107 million lawsuit against Snoop Dogg, Suge Knight, Lucian Grainge, and Jimmy Iovine, alleging fraud and conspiracy to avoid payment of a previous judgment.

Photo Credit: Suge Knight by Nick Leisure / CC by 2.0

Lydia Harris, who claims to be Death Row Records' co-founder and first vice president, filed the lawsuit in Texas on Tuesday. She was previously awarded a $107 million judgment in 2005 related to her and her husband Michael "Harry-O" Harris's role in founding the label.

The lawsuit alleges that Knight and other defendants:

• Concealed financial records
• Filed fraudulent motions
• Misused bankruptcy court procedures
• Engaged in systematic misrepresentation
• Directed fraudulent telecommunications from Texas

Harris claims she has received no payments in the 20 years since winning her original lawsuit. The situation stems from her husband's $1.5 million investment in Death Row Records' launch in the 1980s, which was supposed to secure them a 50% profit share.

Snoop Dogg is included in the lawsuit as Death Row Records' current owner, having acquired the label in 2022 from MNRK Music Group. Harris is seeking punitive damages, asset recovery, and a complete accounting of Death Row Records' finances.

The lawsuit comes after Knight allegedly became distant from Harry-O during the latter's 28-year prison sentence for cocaine trafficking, kidnapping, and attempted murder, prompting Lydia Harris to pursue legal action independently.

Related Articles

Previous Articles