CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge hearing the city of Chicago’s lawsuit against Jussie Smollett says she’ll rule on the actor’s request to toss the suit in October.
The 10-minute status hearing Tuesday was the first since the civil case was moved to federal court from state court. The former “Empire” actor didn’t attend the hearing in Chicago.
The city accuses Smollett of staging a racist and anti-gay attack against himself in January. It sued to force Smollett to pay $130,000 in police overtime and other expenses after state prosecutors dropped charges accusing him of filing a false report.
The defense motion to dismiss earlier this month calls the bid to recoup costs a “perverse tactic” since charges were dismissed. They maintain the attack was real.
The next status hearing is Oct. 22.
Related stories:
Judge Won’t Reconsider Special Prosecutor Ruling in Jussie Smollett Case
Ex-Judge: Smollett’s Lawyers Not Allowed to Practice Law in Illinois
Jussie Smollett’s Attorneys Seeking to Reverse Special Prosecutor Ruling
Judge Orders Special Prosecutor to Examine Smollett Probe
Chicago Releases 911 Calls from Smollett Incident in January
Kim Foxx: False Rumor Caused Recusal in Jussie Smollett Case
Read: Chicago Police Release First Wave of Jussie Smollett Documents