THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G - NOTORIOUS BIG DEFAMATION LAWSUIT DISMISSED

NOTORIOUS BIG DEFAMATION LAWSUIT DISMISSED

LATEST: A judge has thrown out a defamation lawsuit filed by a man who alleged a US television station and a hip-hop magazine falsely accused him of being involved in the murder of rapper NOTORIOUS BIG. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday (18JAN07) dismissed the suit by TYRUSS HIMES against Fox-owned KTTV-TV in Los Angeles and XXL magazine. The judge granted defence motions to dismiss the lawsuit on grounds that the stories were constitutionally protected free speech. The judge also said that Himes had failed to prove that the media outlets acted with malice and reckless disregard for the truth, which is the standard of proof in a defamation case. Himes' attorney ARTHUR G LESMEZ insists his client is considering an appeal or may re-file the case: "We are appreciative of the time and effort the court put into reviewing the case. We're understandably disappointed in the decision and we're evaluating all of our options." Notorious BIG, real name CHRISTOPHER WALLACE, was shot to death in a car on 9 March 1997. Wallace had been in a feud with rapper TUPAC SHAKUR and there have been recurring rumours that Wallace's shooting was retaliation for the unsolved killing of Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996. Himes was a friend of Shakur and performed on his album LOYAL TO THE GAME. Himes sued Fox and XXL magazine in July (06), claiming he lost a record deal because the TV station aired a news report implicating him in Wallace's killing. XXL printed an article in 2005 indicating that he was "involved in assembling the team" to murder Wallace.