The father of late Atlanta rapper Slim Dunkin alleges he can’t collect an $11 million judgment related to his death during a Gucci Mane video shoot, according to a lawsuit filed in DeKalb County.
Mark Hamilton, whose son’s given name was Mario Hamilton, is suing his former attorneys at the Hagen, Rosskopf and Earle firm in Decatur. He alleges they were ineffective in getting the judgment collected, though his former attorneys deny any wrongdoing.
The 24-year-old rapper, who was a protégé of rapper Waka Flocka Flame, was shot in a confrontation during a video shoot for Gucci Mane’s “Push Ups” song on Dec. 21, 2011. It happened at East Atlanta’s Zone 6 Studio. Vinson Hardimon, a rapper who went by Yung Vito, was later acquitted of murder but convicted of lesser charges and sent to prison.
Mark Hamilton filed suit against several defendants but only won against Brick Squad Music Group LLC and Hardiman in a 2016 judgment worth $11 million.
The new suit says the father hasn’t seen that money.
Hardimon remains in state prison. Brick Squad Music Group LLC has been dissolved, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
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Mark Hamilton thinks he would’ve had more luck getting paid by Gucci Mane, Warner Bros. Music International and Neeki Properties, the company that owned the studio, but the original attorneys failed in attempts to get judgments against them.
The new lawsuit, filed by the firm Ney Hoffecker Peacock and Hayle, alleges that the previous attorneys made a range of mistakes: failing to file for proper discovery, failing to serve Gucci Mane and failing to fully investigate.
The specific attorneys being sued are Bruce Hagen and Myrlin Earle.
“Mr. Hamilton suffered an incredible tragedy when he lost his son. I have always been, and remain, very sorry for his loss,” Hagen said in an email. “The claims that Mr. Hamilton has made against me and Mr. Earle, however, are entirely without merit and will be defended to the fullest extent.”
Mark Hamilton’s suit asks for a jury to decide who’s right.
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