Rick Ross Ordered to Pay DJ Vlad $300,000 in Lawsuit

Almost two years after filing a lawsuit against Rick Ross for being assaulted during the Ozone Awards weekend in August 2008, DJ Vlad has been awarded $300,000 in damages.

A Manhattan federal jury found Ross responsible for orchestrating Vlad's beat down. He'll be rewarded with $50,000 compensatory damages, and $250,000 in punitive damages in a New York federal court.

"As an individual that covers breaking news in the hip hop world...I am grateful that the jury punished Rick Ross for setting me up, when all I was doing was covering the news and making commentary," Vlad told the NY Daily News. His lawyer, Brian Caplan, added, "There is no place in civilized society for members of the media to have to fear retribution for their news coverage and commentary."

Vlad initially filed a $4 million dollar suit against Ross, claiming the Miami MC ordered his crew to beat him down after he published a story on his website, VladTV.com, outing Ross as a former correctional officer.

Ross then reached out to Vlad requesting the two meet face to face. The meeting resulted in Vlad being assaulted by several of Ross' associates. The DJ suffered a broken eye socket that required stitches, numerous facial fractures, a corneal abrasion and possible permanent nerve damage.