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Rapper Jayceon "The Game" Taylor and basketball coach settle lawsuit
A rapper settled a lawsuit filed by a coach who alleged the singer threatened him with a gun after an adult league basketball game, the entertainer's attorney said today.
The resolution was reached last week between coach Shannon Rodrick and rapper Jayceon "The Game" Taylor, according to Taylor's lawyer, Lonnie J. Brandon.
The settlement includes payment of some money to Rodrick, Brandon said, but he declined to say how much.
Brandon also said his client is happy to have the case behind him, and that the the accord was achieved partly because of more reasonable demands from attorneys for the coach.
Rodrick's lawyers, Portasha Moore and Rosely George, could not immediately be reached. Jury selection had been scheduled to begin in trial of the suit today in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Rodrick alleged Taylor, 30, punched him and later displayed a handgun at the Rita Walters Learning Complex in South Los Angeles on Feb. 24, 2007, while Rodrick was coaching an opposing team.
Rodrick's March 2008 lawsuit alleged assault and battery, negligence and civil rights violations.
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Taylor pleaded no contest to felony possession of a firearm in a school zone and was released in March 2008 after serving eight days of a 60-day jail sentence. He was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and spend three years on probation.
Brandon stated the singer did not use a gun, but entered the plea to put the criminal case behind him.
Brandon also alleged Rodrick initiated the physical confrontation on the ball court because he saw an opportunity to try to make money from it.
According to the suit, Taylor was playing on a City Hoops team, Litem-up, and was losing by double-digit figures to the Rodrick's team when Taylor approached Rodrick outside during a timeout and said, "Your team is garbage," and "You guys are nothing but a bunch of busters."
When Rodrick turned around to acknowledge Taylor, the rapper hit him on his left cheek, causing the coach to fall backwards, the suit states.
Taylor got a gun from his car and threatened "I'm going to blast this fool." Rodrick ran back into the gym and hid until Taylor left, the suit states.
Taylor's debut CD, "The Documentary," featuring the hit singles, "How We Do" and "Hate It or Love It," earned him two Grammy Award nominations.
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