Michigan cities, Dr. Dre settle lawsuits over racy video
By The Associated Press
10.25.01
Printer-friendly page
DETROIT — Lawsuits filed by Dr. Dre against the cities of Detroit and Auburn Hills have been settled, the rapper’s attorney said yesterday.
Dr. Dre filed the lawsuits in July 2000, accusing the cities and city officials of censorship by threatening to arrest him and organizers if he aired a sexually explicit video at a concert that month.
The settlements include written apologies from Mayor Dennis Archer and the city of Auburn Hills, and First Amendment training for police officers in each city, attorney Herschel Fink said.
The settlements also require the cities to reimburse Dr. Dre for legal fees. Detroit will pay $25,000, and Auburn Hills will pay $28,000.
Detroit mayoral spokesman Greg Bowens, who also was named in the lawsuit, said the mayor was pleased with the settlement.
Bowens said the city was not admitting any guilt, and the monetary settlement was much lower than the multimillion-dollar award for which Fink had originally asked.
Detroit officials, citing obscene imagery that included exposed breasts, successfully barred the 7-minute video from being aired at the “Up in Smoke” show at Joe Louis Arena.
The city of Auburn Hills was ordered by a federal judge not to block the airing of the video at the next night’s performance at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The video aired, but Auburn Hills police seized a copy of it and issued a citation to the arena minutes after it aired.
Previous
Rapper sues Detroit over video dispute
Dr. Dre alleges officials violated his free-speech, due-process rights by ordering video they considered pornographic yanked from local concert.
07.17.00
Related
Detroit officials sue Dr. Dre for privacy invasion
Plaintiffs charge rapper's DVD includes unauthorized taped exchanges between city officials and organizers of Up In Smoke tour.
04.27.02
Federal judge blasts city officials' bid to block rap concert
Show goes on under deal reached after court says Atlantic City, N.J., officials wanted to cancel performance 'based on disliking the message.'
08.26.02
State raps arena over risqué concert video
Michigan attorney general files complaint with liquor commission saying Palace of Auburn Hills violated its license by allowing tape to be shown at Dr. Dre concert.
08.15.00
