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I love michigan - Rapper disses, the jud

Posted by Jeff (Guest) jeff@attoz.com - Wednesday, October 22 2003, 23:40:50 (EDT)
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Rapper disses, the judge dismisses

Hip-hop jurist tosses suit against Eminem

October 21, 2003

BY NANCY A. YOUSSEF
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Another real Slim Shady just stood up.

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# Rap ruling in Eminem's favor

No, he's not a young man of rap legend who has led a troubled life. He's never been arrested or carried a gun.

In fact, he is a she. A veteran of the courtroom and a mother, this Slim Shady is Macomb County Circuit Judge Deborah Servitto, who ruled Friday that a civil case against Eminem should be thrown out.

Her decision came in two forms: as a 14-page brief for the lawyers and as a rap rhyme for the fans of the defendant.

Servitto wrote that she penned the rap so that her decision could be read in "a universally understandable format."

The decision came in the case of Deangelo Bailey, who sued Eminem over the lyrics in the song "Brain Damage," which appeared on the rapper's 2001 recording "The Slim Shady Album."

In that song, Eminem says Bailey beat him up when they were kids attending Dort Elementary School in Roseville.

The lyrics include: I was harassed daily by this fat kid named D'Angelo Bailey

An eighth-grader who acted obnoxious, cause his father boxes

So every day he'd shove me in the lockers.

Bailey sued, saying he had been slandered. Or, as Servitto understood his case: Mr. Bailey complains that his rep is trash

So he's seeking compensation in the form of cash.

Bailey thinks he's entitled to some monetary gain

Because Eminem used his name in vain. Servitto found that Bailey had not been slandered and tossed out the case. After all, she explained:

The lyrics are stories no one would take as fact

They're an exaggeration of a childish act. Any reasonable person could clearly see

That the lyrics could only be hyperbole.

The idea for the rap ruling was Servitto's, said Annette Lupo, the judge's secretary. Two aides at the court's law library helped write the lyrics and Servitto signed off on them, Lupo said.

The ruling -- that is the rap -- was a hit with the court. Judges, clerks, bailiffs, attorneys and Hollywood wanted to see the song.

The judge received calls from cable channels MTV and CNN and the TV program "Celebrity Justice."

But the judge is not taking requests. She will not set the lyrics to music. Don't bother asking her to rap on; she won't comment further because there still could be an appeal.

Eminem wasn't in court for the ruling, but his attorney, Peter Peacock, said the judge's rap was witty.

In a related legal matter, Eminem's ex-wife, Kim Mathers, was supposed to appear before Servitto's ex-husband, Judge Edward Servitto, Monday to be arraigned on charges of cocaine possession. She didn't show and was given until this morning to appear in court or a bench warrant will be issued.

Contact NANCY A. YOUSSEF at 586-469-4904 or youssef@freepress.com.

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-- Jeff

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