Lil’ Kim has won a court order preventing a man who testified against the rapper at her criminal trial from releasing a DVD using her name and image.
Lil’ Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for lying to a federal grand jury about her involvement in a 2001 gun battle outside a Manhattan radio station. She is scheduled to report to prison Sept. 19.
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff said Lil’ Kim was entitled to the victory after James “Lil’ Cease” Lloyd failed to show up to answer the civil lawsuit.
Lil’ Kim wasn’t required to be in court for Wednesday’s hearing.
Lloyd, who was representing himself, couldn’t be reached by phone for comment.
Lloyd and Antoine “Banger” Spain, Brooklyn rappers who once teamed with the rapper in the Junior M.A.F.I.A. group, testified at her trial earlier this year that they saw her at the radio station with her manager and a friend she denied seeing.
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In her lawsuit, Lil’ Kim accused Lloyd of using her name and image to promote a DVD, “The Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A. Part II: Reloaded.” She said the DVD, like a predecessor, was unauthorized and improperly used her name, image and likeness.
She also alleged that Lloyd had announced the DVD would include interviews with him and other members of the group explaining their involvement with her trial.
L. Londell McMillan, a lawyer for Lil’ Kim, said the lawsuit was a signal that she was taking charge of her life and business.
“She’s no longer fearful of the judicial system,” he said.