Singer Ryan Leslie has lost a lawsuit over the reward for a stolen laptop, and must pay $1 million to the man who recovered and returned the computer.
The laptop in question contained a number of unfinished music files, including tracks Leslie was working on for Kanye West and Jay-Z’s “Watch the Throne” album (the only artist to be featured on that album was Frank Ocean). Leslie also lost files related to his own LP, “Les Is More,” which he is currently promoting.
Leslie seems to have accepted the verdict, posting on Twitter that there wasn’t much else he could do:
@ryanleslieRyan Leslie
“Ain’t no way to get around ups & downs.” Jury of my peers rules for the plaintiff. http://t.co/SFkhnmRV
The New York Post reports that Armin Augstein, an auto shop owner, found the computer and gave it to German police in November 2010. Leslie then declined to pay the reward he had promised and even insinuated that Augstein may have been involved in the theft.
The jury initially said they felt $1 million was too high, but Augstein’s lawyers refused to consider a settlement or lower reward. In the end, they jurors agreed.
“No one forced him to make an offer of so much money for a finder’s fee,” Augstein told the Post. “It seems like he believes that that which he promised, he doesn’t have to live up to.”
For more, head over to the New York Post.
by Kia Makarechi
