50 Cent vs Rick Ross: 50's Sex Tape Lawsuit Tactics Labeled 'Frivolous' by Federal Judge
Rap star 50 Cent could soon find himself facing hefty fines stemming from his civil sex tape trial after a federal judge blasted his attempts to have the case moved to federal trial as "frivolous."
U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Failla chastised 50 and his team of high-priced lawyers for their actions on Friday, which she further branded "a transparent delay tactic, an egregious abuse of the federal removal statute and an unmeritorious attempt to avoid standing trial."
According to the New York Daily News, the move marked the second time in the last month 50, born Curtis Jackson, has sought to have the case moved to federal court, with his attorneys contending factors such as both parties being from different states and potential damages exceeded $75,000 legally call for such a change.
Lastonia Leviston, 36, of Florida is suing Jackson, 39, of Connecticut for posting a film of her having sex with her boyfriend on his website. Jackson is also accused of imposing his own image over the other man, and branding her as a call girl, all in an apparent attempt to get under the skin of rap rival Rick Ross who has a child with Leviston.
Leviston now claims she was so distraught after 4 million people saw the video that she almost committed suicide. Ross was not the boyfriend originally in the video.
Previously, attorneys for Jackson have seemingly used such tactics as having him file for bankruptcy in federal court as ways of slowing down the proceedings and getting them moved from state court.
Just last month, as Leviston's team of six attorneys waited for 50's lawyers to appear in state court, they got word that he had filed for bankruptcy protection for a company that he substantially owns, SMS Productions LLC.
With that, his attorneys argued that since he is the primary owner of SMS, this means he, too, is protected from lawsuits by bankruptcy laws.
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