By Roman Wolfe
The family of slain rapper Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace scored a major victory in court on Monday (November 26), when a U.S. District Court Judge added three Los Angeles Police Department officers accused of participating in covering up to a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper issued an 11-page ruling that adding Detectives Stanley Nalywaiko, Stuart Maislin of the Los Angeles Police Department's Risk Management Group and Detective Steven Katz to the lawsuit.
Katz was the detective whose concealed evidence led to a mistrial in 2005, when it was discovered that he hid statements linking the killing of B.I.G. to notorious rogue cops David A. Mack and Rafael Perez.
"Judge Cooper's ruling today gives the family a chance to prove to the world that police were involved in the murder -- and that high officials have covered up for those officers," said the Wallace family's lead attorney, Perry R. Sanders. "The family is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to hold accountable some of the key the people involved in the cover-up."
Judge Cooper denied the Wallace family's request to add other defendants to the lawsuit, but noted that separate suits could be brought against those individuals.
"The prosecution of criminals should be the job of the police," Sanders stated. "The victim's family is trying to hold the LAPD accountable for facilitating crime and then covering it up -- and they hope this will be the only lawsuit they ever need to bring to a conclusion."
Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace was gunned down on March 9, 1997, in front of the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, after attending a party.
Many theories have evolved as to who killed B.I.G. and the motive behind the murder.
Some believe he was the victim of an East coast/West Coast feud involving Tupac Shakur, who died from multiple gunshot wounds on September 13, 1996, after being shot several times with Marion "Suge" Knight in the driver’s seat.
Others theories state that B.I.G. was murdered by Southside Crips, for not paying a debut for security services.
Another theory is that Knight orchestrated both murders in tandem with corrupt LAPD officers, to avoid paying debts owed to Shakur, who was allegedly plotting to leave Knight's label, Death Row Records.
Knight has repeatedly denied involvement in both murders, which are currently unsolved.