Rapper Sued For Not Delivering Promised $1 Million Reward

Say you're a relatively famous musician, and your laptop gets stolen while you're on tour. You offer a $1 million reward for anyone who returns the computer, and about a month later, someone does. So instead of paying them the cool mil you promised in a very public way, you act like that whole reward thing never happened. Cool, right? That's exactly what Harlem-based rapper/producer Ryan Leslie did, and now, unsurprisingly, he's getting sued.

Leslie's laptop was stolen last October when he was touring through Germany. He posted a video pleading for its return, initially offering a $20,000 reward, which he later bumped up to $1 million. About a month later, Armin Augstein found the laptop while he was walking his dog through a park in Stommelerbusch, Germany, and turned it in to authorities, who got the Macbook back to Leslie.

Now, Augstein says he's tried in vain to get Leslie to make good on his reward promise, all to no avail, so he's suing Leslie for $1 million plus interest. "It's unfortunate that my client has to go to such lengths to recover the reward," said Augstein's lawyer. Leslie has yet to comment on the situation, perhaps because he's been too busy living the "Fast Life."

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By Jamie Feldmar in Arts & Entertainment on October 25, 2011 1:27 PM

Comments [rss]

jay smooth

Technically Leslie ought to give up the dough, but it's hard for me to feel too bad for the ostensible good samaritan, or to believe his "found it in the park" explanation.

BTW Ryan Leslie's not really known as a "rapper," he's an R&B singer and songwriter.

R Chisolm

This doesn't add up. So whoever had the laptop...kept it for a MONTH without selling, altering or doing ANYTHING to it. Just steal a laptop from a high profile producer and look at it for a month on the shelf -then dump it in the park pristine condition?

Its more likely Augstein stole it, realized the buzz and publicity around it and decided to wait until the heat died down. He sees the rewards remain around amounts that wouldn't outweigh any potential charges he would have faced...then when it hits $1M, suddenly his "good samaritan" gene kicks in.

Please. $20K...good reward. $1M...you must be out of your damned mind if you think you were gonna get that under those fishy circumstances. It'd be interesting to know if Augstein was coincidentally walking his dog outside the venue where the laptop was originally stolen...that's one lucky dog! Bet it ate die Hausaufgaben as well!

Spirit of 76

Augstein found the laptop while walking his dog in the park? That sounds awfully fishy. Why would a thief just ditch it like that rather than wiping the hard drive and selling it?

T. Funke

Oh my god, people.

It doesn't matter of the guy had anything to do with it's disappearance.

It also doesn't matter that "the right thing to do is turn it in."

This guy offered a million bucks to anyone that returned his laptop. Someone did. That's a binding unilateral contract. This dude is going to have to cough up a million bucks. End of story.

adeez

Well, counselor, what if the returner did not know of the reward offer until AFTER he returned the laptop?

T. Funke

I'm glad you asked that. It's a good question.

If he didn't know about the offer, he isn't entitled to the million dollars. Also, if this rapper offered it to a specific audience, (like if he went on Letterman and said "anyone watching that finds my laptop...") he would not be entitled because he was not part of the initial audience the offer was made.

The question must be answered, was this offer made in jest? Since he initially made an offer of 20k then subsequently increased it, one could argue it was a serious offer. Then the burden of proof is on the rapper to prove he didn't know about the offer when he turned in the laptop.

And no, the cops are NOT entitled to a reward because they acted within the scope of their jobs that they are already paid for.

Eric Gordon

What ever happened to just doing things because they're the right things to do? Like returning a lost cell phone, wallet, etc, and not hoping for a reward or selling them on craigslist?

Mr Mel

If he wont give him the Million at least give him the $20,000 that he said the first time. The Million was bullshit and he knew when he offered it. If the guy didn't steal it or is not involved in the theft, he deserves something. The finder's lawyer may win the case but I'll bet, if he does, they wont be able to collect from this deadbeat.

sarobby

Armin: Ryan, how are you ever going to pay a reward like that?

Ryan Leslie:
It's simple. Whoever returns the laptop is obviously the person who stole it. So they don't deserve any reward!

DJ Mayonnaise Hands

+1000 for the Pee Wee's Big Adventure reference.

ishtar_79

Ryan Leslie is not a rapper.

souper_crackers

Whoever that rapper is should at least try to look nice and give the guy some sort of reward, though. Otherwise, he's going to wind up looking poor, and that's something no respectable rapper wants.

jezzybelle

i think that's super uncool what leslie did. he's skeezy. BUT.. c'mon. suing cause you did a good deed and didn't get your promised pat on the head? would the german guy have NOT turned it in if there were no reward? i think german guy needs to drop this and let karma take care of it.