Notorious B.I.G. was sitting on top of the world in 1997. At 24 it was speculated that he would become one of the greatest rappers of all time. While his future in music seemed extremely promising, it was cut short on March 9th, 1997 when he was shot down dead, shocking the world of Hip Hop.
There were never any arrests made in Biggie’s case and his mother Voletta Wallace blamed the LAPD and L.A. city officials as contributors in her son’s death. In 2002 Wallace followed up her accusations with a wrongful death lawsuit. In 2006 the Wallace family was awarded $ 1.1 million when U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper ruled in their favor.
This ruling was later overturned when it was believed that the family had withheld information during the original investigation and case. The Wallace family, hoping for a better outcome, returned to court this year. This week, after several hearings and an eight year endeavor, federal court judge Jacqueline Nguyen dismissed the case.
Although Biggie Small’s family did not win the case, it has been 13 years since his death and his music and memory continue to vividly live on. To some his immortality could be considered the bigger win.
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