Sean "Puffy" Combs has been found responsible, along with Heavy D and the state of New York, for the 1991 stampede that occurred at the City College of New York during a rap concert leaving nine people dead. The ruling was heard in the New York Court of Claims, which only heard cases against the state. The decision has no direct legal impact on Combs (who acted as promoter of the 1991 event), but could set a precedent for future cases concerning the incident.

Last year, Combs settled eight of the nine wrongful death suits brought against him. In addition to the one outstanding wrongful death suit, Combs still has a handful of injury suits pending.

Speaking about the ruling itself, Combs' attorney, Kenneth Meiselas, noted, "It could not be expected that Mr. Combs would be exonerated in a forum in which he had no opportunity to defend himself, to present witnesses, or even to cross-examine witnesses who testified against him.

There is not a day that passes that I do not regret

the fact that I was a promoter of this tragic event at City College," Combs said in a written statement addressing Monday's ruling. "I have lived with the horror of that night for the last seven years. But my pain is nothing compared to what the victims' families have had to face.

Yesterday's ruling represents another step towards a resolution of the legal proceedings. But I know that when you lose a loved one, the suffering doesn't end. I jut keep praying that God will give the families the strength to bear it."