Incarcerated rapper Tory Lanez has filed a lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation following a violent stabbing incident that left him hospitalized with severe injuries.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, April 17, 2026, names the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the warden at California Correctional Institution (CCI) in Tehachapi, and 50 corrections officers as defendants. The legal action stems from a May 2025 attack in which Lanez was stabbed 16 times by a fellow inmate wielding a shank.
According to court documents, the attack resulted in permanent scarring to Lanez's face and two collapsed lungs. The rapper identifies his assailant as Santino Casio, an inmate he alleges should never have been housed in proximity to him due to safety concerns.
The lawsuit alleges fundamental failures in the prison's duty to protect inmates from foreseeable violence. Lanez claims that Casio has a "violent history" and that housing them together violated basic safety protocols. The filing argues that Lanez's celebrity status makes him a target within the prison system, a factor that should have been considered when determining housing assignments.
Central to the lawsuit are allegations that warden Danny Samuel violated CDCR protocols by allowing the housing arrangement. The complaint further asserts that prison staff were absent during the stabbing and that their response was inexplicably delayed. Lanez characterizes this as "deliberate indifference to foreseeable violence" and accuses prison guards of failing to adequately protect him.
The legal filing also raises concerns about property seizures that occurred while Lanez was recovering in the hospital. According to the lawsuit, prison officials confiscated his original song books containing unpublished lyrics, as well as notes exchanged with his attorney. Lanez asserts that these lyrics have "substantial commercial value," adding another dimension to his claims against the institution.
The $100 million damages claim includes $1 million per stab wound and $10 million for facial scarring. In addition to monetary compensation, Lanez is demanding the return of his original songbooks.
This lawsuit represents a significant legal challenge to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's handling of high-profile inmates and raises questions about safety protocols within the state prison system. The case highlights ongoing concerns about violence in correctional facilities and the special vulnerabilities faced by celebrity inmates.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. As the case proceeds through the legal system, it may shed light on internal prison policies regarding inmate safety and the protection of those whose public profiles may make them targets for violence behind bars.