(AllHipHop News) Jerry Heller’s nephew wants to be named executor of the former N.W.A. manager’s will so he can continue the late music mogul’s “Straight Outta Compton” defamation lawsuit.
Heller launched legal action against the producers of the 2015 N.W.A. biopic, including Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, prior to his death in September, after objecting to his portrayal as a ruthless record label boss, played by Paul Giamatti, in the film.
The rappers, alongside director F. Gary Gray and bosses at NBCUniversal, moved to have the suit dismissed and they successfully managed to have a number of allegations in Heller’s complaint thrown out.
However, the group’s former manager was allowed to continue pursuing his defamation claim regarding scenes which showed him advising an artist against getting a lawyer during contract negotiations.
It was unclear what would happen to the lawsuit after Heller’s passing, but in October, his attorney Michael Shapiro requested permission to pursue the case in the name of a successor in interest.
Now Heller’s nephew Terry has filed his own court papers asking to be allowed to continue his uncle’s legal fight by changing the name of the plaintiff from Heller to his estate, which had been placed in a private trust before his passing, reports TMZ.com.
A ruling on the motion has yet to be made.
Heller, 75, died after suffering a heart attack while driving, causing him to crash his car. He later died from his injuries.