By Dominic Taylor-
Nicki Minaj’s mother Carol Maraj has filed a $150 million lawsuit against the man suspected of killing the pop star’s father in a hit-and-run.
The legal suit is over the death of Minaj’s father, Robert, who died after being rushed to hospital after being struck by a car in Long Island, New York, on Friday, February 12.
Robert Maraj died in February at the age of 64 after being struck by a vehicle while walking along a road in Long Island, New York. He was taken to hospital ‘in a critical condition’ but succumbed to his injuries.
Nassau County Police subsequently held a press conference announcing they had arrested a man, Charles Polevich, in connection with the incident. According to police, the 71-year-old turned himself in and was charged with leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality and tampering with evidence.
Arrest
Police arrested Charles Polevich, 70, who reportedly stopped his vehicle to ask Maraj if he was okay before getting back in his car and driving away. The suspect is said to have parked his car out of sight in a garage, but surrendered to police after detectives used surveillance to track the car back to his home.
On Friday, March 19, attorneys Ben Crump and Paul J. Papoli announced they filed the lawsuit at the Supreme Court of the State of New York on behalf of Maraj. Crump is known for representing the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake.
In a statement, the lawyers said Polevich ‘was not only irresponsible and negligent in hitting Robert Maraj, but he was more concerned about running away and hiding himself than in seeking help for the man he injured.’
The pair added:
‘His behaviour was criminal, cowardly and immoral. Through the filing of this lawsuit, we intend to hold Polevich responsible for his reckless actions and achieve justice for the victim’s widow’.
Polevich has been charged with leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality and tampering with evidence. As a result of his arrest, he had his driver’s license suspended, was ordered to surrender his passport and told not to leave the state.
Speaking to Law&Crime, Polevich’s attorney in the criminal case, Marc C. Gann, said an insurance company would handle the civil matter, providing a lawyer or handling a hypothetical settlement.