Human Rights and Racial Profiling Case Attorneys

In addition to being recognized as New York Super Lawyers®, particularly in the area of personal injury, our attorneys also have extensive experience litigating racial profiling and injustice cases. Currently, we are representing Keyon Harrold in his case against Arlo Hotels and Miya Ponsetto, working in partnership with the distinguished lawyer Ben Crump. The Robert Maraj case is of particular concern. Here are the facts regarding that hit-and-run tragedy:

Robert Maraj $150M Lawsuit:

On the evening of February 12, 2021, Robert Maraj was fatally struck by a car in a hit-and-run accident in Long Island, New York. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died hours later. The late Maraj, 64, was the father of globally acclaimed rapper Nicki Minaj.

Maraj’s widow, Carol Maraj, is filing a $150 million lawsuit against the suspect, Charles Polevich. Nationally recognized attorneys Ben Crump and Paul J. Napoli filed the lawsuit on Mrs. Maraj’s behalf on March 19 in the state Supreme Court in Nassau County.

Background

Maraj was walking in the street at the time he was struck, possibly due to snow pileups on the sidewalk. Polevich, 70, stopped briefly at the scene and asked the victim if he was okay, but left without attempting aid or alerting the authorities. Police used surveillance footage to track down Polevich’s white Volvo to his home in Mineola four days later, where he was arrested. Police allege Polevich tried to avoid detection, intentionally avoiding intersections on his drive home and concealing his vehicle in the detached garage at his residence. He is charged with leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality and tampering with evidence, both felonies.

Polevich pleaded not guilty and is free on bail following his arraignment in Nassau County court. His driver’s license is suspended, and he is prohibited from leaving New York State. An insurance company will handle the civil matter, according to Polevich’s attorney Marc Gann.

As a nationally known litigation firm, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC has been involved in numerous landmark settlements and verdicts and consistently displays a tireless dedication to helping our clients to achieve justice. Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, is a nationally recognized trial lawyer. He currently represents the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake.

These are excerpts from selected media covering the case:

As Covered By:

Daily Mail

This article covers the announcement by attorneys Ben Crump and Paul Napoli of Carol Maraj’s $150 million lawsuit against Charles Polevich.

It details Maraj’s relationship with his family and his past alcoholism and drug abuse. His drug problem and anger issues had at one point put a strain on his family. In a 2012 interview, Nicki Minaj, his daughter and ten-time Grammy-nominated rapper, said that her father was now sober.

Minaj has not yet spoken publicly on her father’s death. Robert Maraj and his wife, Carol, moved to the United States from Trinidad when Minaj was five years old, settling in Jamaica, Queens.

The article also describes Polevich’s numerous means of evading detection by police. Despite his efforts, police were able to piece together surveillance footage to track his Volvo to his home in Mineola. A judge set Polevich’s bail at $250,000 bond, suspended his driver’s license and ordered him to surrender his passport. Polevich owns a Guam-based environmental consulting firm and spends much of his time there. He has no prior criminal record.

In an Instagram post from Crump’s account, Crump stated, “Paul Napoli and I have filed a $150 million lawsuit in the hit-and-run death of Robert Maraj, @nickiminaj’s father.”

New York Post Page Six

This article covers the announcement by attorneys Ben Crump and Paul Napoli of Carol Maraj’s $150 million lawsuit against Charles Polevich.

In the Instagram post announcing the lawsuit, the attorneys said, “He [Polevich] was not only irresponsible and negligent, but more concerned about running away and hiding than seeking help. Polevich’s behavior was criminal, cowardly, and immoral. We will hold him responsible for his reckless actions that led to Robert Maraj’s death!”

Independent

This article identifies Crump and Napoli as the top civil rights lawyers who filed a $150 million civil lawsuit on behalf of Carol Maraj over the hit-and-run death of her husband. The article also mentions that Crump is the attorney who represents the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake.

The article published part of Crump and Napoli’s statement on Twitter announcing the lawsuit: “Charles Polevich was not only irresponsible and negligent in hitting Robert Maraj, but he was more concerned about running away and hiding himself than in seeking help for the man he injured.

“His behavior was criminal, cowardly and immoral,” the statement continued. “Through the filing of this lawsuit, we intend to hold Polevich responsible for his reckless actions and achieve justice for the victim’s widow.”

Newsday

This article restates the details of the hit-and-run accident and the impending lawsuit. It summarizes the lawsuit’s claim that Polevich was negligent, reckless and careless when he hit Robert Maraj with his car and left him at the scene. The suit claims that Polevich’s negligent actions have led to Carol Maraj facing economic losses and incurring various expenses, among other damages. It also re-published Crump’s Instagram post announcing the lawsuit.

Mrs. Maraj told Newsday that she is “very, very, very happy” about Polevich’s arrest and said all of Maraj’s children “are pleased” that the alleged culprit was caught.”

The article names Joseph P. Napoli of Melville-based Napoli Shkolnik PLLC as Mrs. Maraj’s other legal representative.

Twitter

In a tweet that has been retweeted 364 times and liked 1,908 times, Ben Crump announced the lawsuit against Charles Polevich:

“Paul Napoli and I have filed a $150 million lawsuit in the hit-and-run death of Robert Maraj, @NICKIMINAJ’s father. Charles Polevich was not only irresponsible & negligent in hitting Maraj but was more concerned about running away and hiding than seeking help. Polevich’s behavior was criminal, cowardly, and immoral. We will hold him responsible for his reckless actions that led to Robert Maraj’s death!”

Read more here: Tweet by Attorney Ben Crump

Business Insider

This article announces the $150 million lawsuit filed against Charles Polevich. It names Ben Crump and Paul J. Napoli as the attorneys who filed the lawsuit on March 19 in the Supreme Court of the State of New York on behalf of Carol Maraj.

It includes a statement from Nassau County Police Detective Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick during a news conference last month. He said Polevich was “absolutely aware of what happened” during the incident. “He got out of the car and he looked at the deceased, got into his car, and made the conscious decision to leave instead of dialing 911, instead of calling an ambulance for the man,” Fitzpatrick said. “He went home and secluded the vehicle. He’s well aware of what he did.”

The article shares the media alert attorneys Crump and Napoli tweeted out that officially announced the lawsuit.

11 Alive

This article recaps the charges against Polevich, who is free on bail and ordered not to leave New York State. The article confirms Marc Gann as Polevich’s attorney. It also shared Crump and Napoli’s Instagram and Twitter statements announcing the lawsuit filing.

Revolt

This article names Crump and Napoli as the attorneys who have taken on Carol Maraj’s case. It shares Crump and Napoli’s social media statements and recounts the circumstance of the hit-and-run and Polevich’s subsequent arrest and criminal charges. Lt. Fitzpatrick’s comments at the news conference were also shared.

“Driver Charles Polevich was not only irresponsible & negligent in hitting Maraj but was more concerned about running away and hiding than seeking help,” said Paul Napoli. “We will bring Robert Maraj justice.”