DailyMail reports:
-Woman shot in face received $1.8m
-Jamal Barrow was deported back to Belize after serving nine years in jail
Rapper Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs has settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit with three revellers hit in a Christmas shooting at a New York nightclub, it was revealed today.
Natania Reuben, 40, was shot in the face during the 1999 attack at Club New York and has received $1.8 million (£1.1 m), some of which has apparently come from the star’s own pocket.
She was hit in the nose and suffered seizures because of seven bullet fragments still lodged in her face.
On the night of the shooting Combs was in the club with then girlfriend Jennifer Lopez to celebrate his former protégé Jamal ‘Shyne’ Barrow’s new record deal.
But a row broke out with clubber Matthew ‘Scar’ Allen and Barrow pulled a gun and began to fire, hitting several bystanders.
Along with Natania Reuben two other unarmed victims were also paid $500,000 and $50,000 for their injuries, according to the New York Times.
Barrow was jailed for nine years and deported to his native Belize for the attack.
Combs was cleared of any wrongdoing in the criminal case, but both he and Barrow, as well as the now-shut club’s owners, were targeted in a $130 million (£81 million) legal battle for compensation in 2008.
During the trial Ms Reuben, a beautician mother of two, said when she was shot ‘It felt like a flaming hot sledgehammer hit me in the face.’
Today Diddy declined to comment on the payments.
Natania Reuben’s lawyer, Debra Reiser, said: ‘My client wanted the confidentiality agreement because she didn’t want any further publicity. She’s been victimized enough.’
The exact terms of the settlements have been kept secret but former Club New York owner Michael Bergos has revealed the cash deals.
Bergos told the New York Post that he was unsure who paid what amount in the deal, but said he understood P Diddy had to pay himself while Barrow’s and the club’s shares were picked up by insurance companies.
