Missy Elliott can smile now that her money and popularity won’t be considered in her legal battle with a former bandmate.
The case stems from her group SISTA, which grew to popularity in the early 1990s. The case, that’s been going for decades, is focused on who owns the songwriting rights to the group’s 1994 album, 4 All the Sistas Around da World.
One of the group’s members, Terry Williams, has claimed that he co-wrote multiple songs on the LP and alleged that he created 34 songs altogether. Elliot has denied his claims, stating that she wrote all of the songs herself without Williams’ help.
In a recent ruling from U.S. District Judge Nitza Quiñones Alejandro that advanced in federal court, the evidence that Williams is allowed to present to support his claim has been restricted.
“References to Elliott’s wealth, fame, and other works have little to no relevance to this case. The probative value is outweighed by a danger of unfair prejudice,” reads the ruling (per Baller Alert).
Williams previously argued that the legendary rapper’s public comments about her career were cause to examine her overall success. However, Judge Alejandro denied that request and refused to let the information be used to support an increase in damages.
There is, however, a chance for the information to be used — and that’s only if a direct link between Elliot’s professional history and the songs from the album in question can be shown.
Last August, Elliot has another lawsuit over the royalties from an Aaliyah song dismissed — and that suit also involved Williams. He’d originally started the lawsuit in 2018, alleging that he’d written Aaliyah’s 1996 song, “Heartbroken.”
In the dismissal, the court revealed its reason for doing so was because he waited 22 years to assert a claim.
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