Nicki Minaj's mother, Carol Maraj, is set to receive a six-figure settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the 2021 death of her husband, Robert Maraj, after new court filings detailed how the agreement will be distributed.
According to documents filed in Nassau County Supreme Court, Carol Maraj reached a proposed $400,000 settlement to resolve claims against Charles Polevich, the driver who fatally struck Robert Maraj while he was walking on a New York crosswalk in February 2021. The settlement remains subject to judicial approval.
Court records show the agreement consists of $300,000 from Polevich's personal assets and an additional $100,000 from Allstate Insurance. Attorneys representing Carol Maraj asked the court to approve the resolution after the parties reached the agreement through mediation.
The filings also outline how the proceeds would be divided. Carol Maraj's legal team, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, is seeking $133,333.32 in attorney's fees along with $9,744.38 in litigation expenses. If approved, the remaining $234,337.51 would be allocated to Robert Maraj's estate. Court documents further state that there are no outstanding Medicaid or estate liens associated with the settlement.
Robert Maraj died on February 13, 2021, one day after being struck by a vehicle in Mineola, New York. Carol Maraj filed the wrongful death lawsuit, alleging she suffered the loss of her husband's companionship as a result of the fatal crash.
Polevich was later convicted in the criminal case after leaving the scene of the collision and was sentenced to one year in jail.
The civil lawsuit previously generated headlines when Polevich's legal team sought to depose Nicki Minaj. They argued the rapper's lyrics and past comments about her childhood could be relevant to understanding her relationship with her father. However, the proposed settlement appears to resolve the case before Minaj was required to provide testimony.
In a separate affirmation filed by defense counsel, attorneys confirmed that all parties agreed to the $400,000 resolution during mediation and jointly asked the court to approve the compromise so the funds currently being held in escrow can be distributed according to the agreement.
