Nicki Minaj’s mother, Carol Maraj, is expected to receive a six-figure payout in the wrongful death lawsuit tied to the 2021 death of her husband, Robert Maraj, after newly filed court documents revealed how the settlement will be divided.
According to filings submitted in Nassau County Supreme Court, Carol Maraj reached a proposed $400,000 settlement to resolve her claims against Charles Polevich, the driver who fatally struck Robert Maraj as he crossed a street in Mineola, New York, in February 2021. The agreement is still awaiting approval from a judge.
Court records show the settlement includes $300,000 from Polevich’s personal funds and another $100,000 from Allstate Insurance. Carol Maraj’s attorneys requested court approval after both sides reached the agreement through mediation.
The filings also detail how the money would be distributed. Carol Maraj’s attorneys, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, are seeking $133,333.32 in legal fees and $9,744.38 to cover litigation costs. If the settlement is approved, the remaining $234,337.51 will go to Robert Maraj’s estate. The documents also note that there are no outstanding Medicaid or estate liens tied to the case.
Robert Maraj died on February 13, 2021, one day after he was struck by a vehicle while walking through a crosswalk in Mineola, New York. Carol Maraj later filed the wrongful death lawsuit, claiming she suffered the loss of her husband’s companionship because of the fatal incident.
Polevich was later convicted in the criminal case after fleeing the scene of the crash and was sentenced to one year behind bars.
The civil lawsuit previously drew attention when Polevich’s legal team attempted to depose Nicki Minaj. They argued that the rapper’s lyrics and previous comments about her childhood could help establish the nature of her relationship with her father. However, the proposed settlement appears to bring the case to an end before Minaj was required to testify.
In a separate court filing, attorneys for the defense confirmed that both sides agreed to the $400,000 settlement during mediation and jointly asked the court to approve the agreement so the funds currently being held in escrow can be distributed as outlined.
