April 19, 2007 2:06

Notorious BIG's family sues LA

It's their second wrongful death suit against the city

Notorious BIG's family have filed a wrongful death suit against the city of Los Angeles for the second time.

The suit seeks unspecified damages on behalf of the rapper's mother, wife, and two children, and alleges that the city's police officers killed him 10 years ago.

Notorious BIG, real name Christopher Wallace, was gunned down in 1997 as he was leaving a party at a Los Angeles museum.

The suit contends that former LA police officers Rafael Perez and Nino Durden conspired to murder Notorious BIG, and that the police department played a role in covering it up, reports the Associated Press.

Both officers were involved in the infamous Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division corruption scandal in the late 90's, which included allegations police being involved in stealing evidence and bank robberies.

Perez has denied any involvement in the murder, and no statement has been obtained from Durden.

The initial suit filed by the family of the New York rapper - also known as Biggie Smalls - ended in a mistrial in 2005 after it was discovered that a police detective concealed relevant information linking Perez and another officer to the murder.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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