Judge dismisses lawsuit against Snoop Dogg

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing rap star Snoop Dogg of including a message left on his answering machine in a song without permission.

The lawsuit was filed in March in Los Angeles on behalf of a man who kept his name secret because of safety concerns.

The man claimed his one-minute message appeared in a song released as part of the 2002 album Paid the Cost to be Tha Boss.

The message, left under the name Jim Bob, expressed the caller's support for Snoop Dogg in his rivalry with rap music producer Marion "Suge" Knight, the lawsuit said.

The plaintiff sought a monetary award from Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, and other defendants, including Capitol Records.

Superior Court Judge Lawrence W. Crispo ruled that the plaintiff had no expectation to privacy when he left the message.