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Two men who were wounded during a 2022 shooting are seeking $10.6 million in damages from rapper Kodak Black outside a party hosted by Justin Bieber. The men, Adam Rahman and Mark Schaefer, claim Kodak Black played a role in starting the altercation that led to the gunfire. The incident occurred on February 12, 2022, outside The Nice Guy restaurant in West Hollywood.
The party followed Bieber’s Super Bowl Weekend performance and was attended by several celebrities. Kodak Black, whose real name is Dieuson Octave, was also shot during the incident. He was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to his upper leg. No arrests were made in the case, but Rahman and Schaefer later filed a lawsuit against multiple parties, including Black, Bieber, and the venue’s owners.
According to court filings, the two plaintiffs are now trying to hold Kodak Black financially responsible, alleging that he was the “catalyst” for the shooting. At a court hearing on August 6, 2025, a judge gave them until August 25 to resubmit their request for default damages, after earlier requests were denied due to a lack of proper documentation.
What do the plaintiffs claim Kodak Black did?
As reported by Rolling Stone on August 6, 2025, Rahman and Schaefer claim they saw Kodak Black initiate a fight outside the restaurant. They claimed that this event directly led to the gunfire that injured all three parties.
In a sworn statement filed in April, Rahman wrote,
“I witnessed Kodak Black initiate the altercation with patrons outside of the subject location, which was the catalyst for the series of events that led to gun violence.”
The plaintiffs claim to be bystanders and state that they had no involvement in the argument. Schaefer alleges that he was collecting autographs when he was shot above the right ankle. He needed surgery and physical therapy. Rahman was shot in the left shoulder. Both men claim that they suffered lasting physical and emotional harm.
Initially, the lawsuit named Justin Bieber and the owners of The Nice Guy restaurant as co-defendants with Black. The judge later dismissed those claims. In June 2024, the court ruled that the shooting was not “foreseeable” by the restaurant. The plaintiffs also dismissed Bieber from the lawsuit later that year.
Why is Kodak Black being held in default?
As reported by Rolling Stone on August 6, 2025, the court is considering holding Kodak Black in default because he has not responded to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs claim that they served him with legal documents, first by delivering them to his mother, as well as later by mail. However, Black’s longtime lawyer, Bradford Cohen, says the rapper never received any official notice. Cohen told Rolling Stone,
“Kodak has never been served with any lawsuit from California. He was never on notice of anything from California."
He also questioned why the plaintiffs are targeting someone who was also a victim.
“I find it unusual that they’re attempting to sue the very person who was the most injured out of the individuals who got shot.”
Cohen also said the address used for mailing court papers was not connected to Kodak Black. Cohen stated,
“He does not own that house."
Because of this, Black’s legal team believes the court should deny the default request.
Why was the $62 million damages request denied?
As reported by Rolling Stone on August 6, 2025, the plaintiffs first asked the court for $62 million in default damages in November 2024. That request was denied. The judge said they failed to give enough proof of the damages they were claiming. A second request for $10.6 million was also rejected in July 2025 for the plaintiffs not being able to substantiate their claims on similar grounds.
According to the judge, the men need to provide evidence such as medical bills to support their claims for pain and suffering. The court stated the earlier documents were “inadequate” and did not meet legal standards. At the latest hearing, the judge gave them until August 25 to submit an updated request with the necessary paperwork.
The lawsuit against Kodak Black is still ongoing. The plaintiffs, Rahman and Schaefer, allege that he started the fight that led to the 2022 shooting. They are seeking $10.6 million in damages. However, Black’s legal team denies that he was ever properly notified about the case. The court has not yet decided whether to grant a default judgment.
If the plaintiffs submit proper evidence by the August 25 deadline, the judge may consider their request again. Until then, the outcome of the case remains uncertain. The shooting, which also injured Black, has not led to any criminal charges as of yet.
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