Tha Row and the Law....again

[Biron]

Attorney Amanda Metcalf filed a suit on March 25 against Death Row Records, Marion "Suge" Knight, Dick Griffey, Solar Records, Founders Bank Of Commerce, and others, alleging fraud/deceit, constructive trust; conversion, conspiracy; constructive trust (fraud); breach of contract; intentional interference with economic relations; unfair business practices; declaratory relief; and accounting. The suit, which seeks more than $1,333,000 in damages, was filed in the Superior Court of California, county of Los Angeles.

Metcalf, who represented Griffey in a 1996 suit against Knight; Interscope Records founders Ted Fields and Jimmy Iovine; and others, claims that Griffey, Knight, and additional parties conspired to eliminate her from her share of Griffey's $4 million judgment, which was reached on February 2, 1998.

Griffey signed Metcalf's attorney fee agreement dated December 30, 1996 which entitled her to 33 percent of Griffey's recovery, according to the complaint.

After the judgment was reached, Griffey excluded Metcalf from his meetings with Knight, who was imprisoned at the time. Metcalf maintains that Griffey waived his right to collect monies from Knight on multiple instances, and received payments of $150,000 and $450,000 without her knowledge or consent.

During February 2000, Griffey convinced Metcalf to dismiss her lien filed against Griffey's judgment on February 3, 1998, and agreed to pay the balance of her fees by September 2000, according to the complaint.

Metcalf argues that Griffey has not made payment, nor been in communication with her.

A status conference for the suit is set for June 18, 2002. The suit also names a number of other defendants, including Reggie Wright, David Kenner, African Development Public Investment Corporation, Regina Hughes, Virgil Roberts, Union Bank Of California, Merrill Lynch, and Bank One.

A spokesperson for Knight said that he was not aware of the suit and could not offer a comment.