THREE 6 MAFIA - THREE 6 MAFIA SEEK LAWSUIT DISMISSAL

THREE 6 MAFIA SEEK LAWSUIT DISMISSAL

Members of Oscar-winning rap group THREE 6 MAFIA have asked for the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a man who claimed he was severely beaten at a concert when fans followed the lyrics of the song LET'S START A RIOT. The group filed the motion last week (ends03SEPT06) in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania court, insisting there is no "genuine issue of material fact" to the complaint. According to the motion, the lyrics are protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. RAMONE WILLIAMS claimed in his lawsuit he was attacked during a show at a now-defunct Pittsburgh nightclub on 26 August 2003. Williams, who was 19 at the time, said he got into the club and became uneasy when the song began. Before it was over, Williams alleges he was thrown to the floor, hit with a chair, stomped on and kicked in the face. His injuries included a fractured jaw. Williams won a default judgment from the club. The nightclub has since closed down and its former operators did not respond to the complaint. The Memphis, Tennessee-based rappers won an Academy Award earlier this year (06) for their song IT'S HARD OUT HERE FOR A PIMP from the film HUSTLE + FLOW.