(AllHipHop News) A judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed against actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly making false claims he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall’s ruling allows Chicago city officials to proceed with their bid to seek to recoup the $130,000 spent investigating Smollett’s story.
The “Empire” star was indicted on 16 counts after it was alleged he had staged the hate attack on himself to drum up publicity, and he was later charged with disorderly conduct and filing a false police report.
However, he walked free from custody on March 26 after all charges against him were dropped.
But city officials still refused to believe he was a victim and set about recouping the money they felt they had wasted on the investigation.
Smollett has denied faking the attack, and last month filed a motion asking for the city’s lawsuit to be thrown out of court.
City officials say GPS data, video, and other evidence prove Smollett paid the men he accused of attacking him to fake a hate crime.