Rapper to pay $1.5m in lawsuit
2008-01-17 14:37
Upper Marlboro - Rapper-actor DMX has been ordered to pay $1.5m to the mother of his child after he failed to appear in court to defend himself against allegations of defamation.
DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was sued by Monique Wayne for defamation of character after he allegedly told a magazine that Wayne raped him during a 2003 hotel stay in Baltimore, leading to her pregnancy.
Wayne responded to the comments by filing a $6m lawsuit against Simmons in October 2006.
The judge ruled in Wayne's favour on Friday when Simmons did not appear at a scheduled court hearing.
He ordered Simmons to pay Wayne $518 400 in compensation and $1m in punitive penalties, according to Wayne's lawyer, Stephanie Moran.
"The judgment of the court speaks to the outrageousness of what Mr Simmons said about Miss Wayne and that such false statements will not be tolerated," Moran said.
A lawyer for Simmons did not return calls on Tuesday seeking comment.
Besides his top-selling records, Simmons has acted in films including Never Die Alone, Romeo Must Die and Cradle 2 the Grave.
- AP