Former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader Shayla Stevens was awarded $6.4 million in damages from Da Brat after a Georgia jury found the rapper liable for attacking Stevens with a bottle of rum back in 2007.
Da Brat, real name Shawntae Harris, served about three years in prison for the attack. Aside from a criminal conviction, the Atlanta-based rapper was also found liable in a civil suit filed in 2009 by Stevens. A Cobb County jury awarded the ex-Falcons cheerleader and waitress $3.7 million in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday.
The jury said Da Brat, 39, was responsible for Stevens’ injuries from the 2007 Atlanta nightclub incident, including permanent facial scarring, neurological impairment and severe mental pain, TMZ reported. The assault occurred at a Halloween party at Studio 72, a club owned by hip-hop mogul Jermaine Dupri.
Da Brat’s attorney, B.J. Bernstein, said he thought the jury’s verdict was excessive.
“I’m baffled,” the told the Journal-Constitution. “She owned up to what happened when it happened and was punished.”
Stevens’ attorney Mark Link, disagreed. He pointed out that his client’s injuries are ones Stevens will have to deal with for the rest of her life.
“She has a brain injury and is a brain injury survivor,” Link told the Journal-Constitution. “It’s not something that will ever go away. She has a scar on her face. She had so much going for her and for it come to an abrupt stop because of this attack.”
Bernstein wouldn’t say whether Da Brat is thinking of appealing the jury’s decision. She is still on probation for the assault after spending about three years in Arrendale State Prison.
Jury Awards Shayla Stevens, Ex-Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader, $6.4M For Da Brat Attack
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