Part of former drug kingpin “Freeway” Ricky Ross’s lawsuit against Rick Ross is still alive.
According to multiple reports, including Billboard.Biz, earlier this week on Tuesday (July 17), a California state judge rejected Warner Bros. Records’ motion to dismiss “Freeway” Ricky Ross’ lawsuit against Rick Ross—one that alleges that Rozay had misappropriated the name and identity of “Freeway Ricky Ross—ruling that the statute of limitations hadn’t expired.
That decision may spell Warner Bros. Records to face “Freeway” Ross’ claims of publicity rights, false advertising, unjust enrichment, and unfair business practice, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Although the judge rejected statute of limitations as means to dismiss the lawsuit Tuesday, he did tell “Freeway” that the amended complaint doesn’t contain allegations specific to the defendant and is giving him 10 days to amend the suit with new allegations, a time period that “Freeway” has agreed to amend it in.
Tuesday’s decision to keep part of his suit alive is a win for “Freeway,” considering his original $10 million lawsuit against Ross, Jay-Z, Def Jam, Universal Music Group, Vivendi and others was thrown out back in 2010 after a judge ruled that “Freeway” couldn’t legitimately show he had trademark rights to his name.
He then re-filed his lawsuit, but a second judge dismissed it on the statute of limitations having passed, as it was deemed that Rozay was already famous by 2005.
