A federal lawsuit filed by a former writing partner of rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot (Anthony Ray) has ended with the judge ordering the payment of attorney fees for the filing of a “frivolous” lawsuit seeking royalties.

According to news reports, David Ford filed a copyright complaint against Sir Mix-a-Lot seeking a share of revenue from Sir Mix-a-Lot’s hit songs including “Baby Got Back.” Ford’s claims were dismissed earlier this month and attorney’s fees awarded in the amount of $20,000.

Sir Mix-a-Lot’s attorney Judith Endejan said Ford was attempting to “make a quick buck” from singer Nicki Minaj’s recent use of a sample from “Baby Got Back” in her hit “Anaconda.”

“Plaintiff’s claim is frivolous or, at the very least, motivated by an unfair desire to cash in on the efforts of another. Whatever his contributions to the sixteen joint works, plaintiff remained silent for two decades, never asserting that he was an author until a lucrative license was obtained by defendant,” U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik wrote in his order dismissing the case.

—Source: courthousenews.com