Judge Says Sex-Tape Lawsuit Can Proceed Despite 50 Cent’s Bankruptcy

Rapper 50 Cent filed for bankruptcy earlier this week to halt a sex-tape lawsuit, but that legal reprieve didn’t last long.

On Friday, Judge Ann Nevins ruled that the 40-year-old rapper’s bankruptcy shouldn’t halt the 2010 lawsuit filed by Lastonia Leviston, who accused him of violating her privacy by posting a sex tape of her online. The posting in 2009 escalated the “rap war” between the rapper, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, and Rick Ross, Ms. Leviston’s ex-boyfriend.

Mr. Jackson filed for chapter 11 protection on Monday, shortly before jurors were scheduled to determine whether he should pay additional damages on top of a $5 million award in the sex-tape dispute.

Filing for bankruptcy automatically halts lawsuits, but Ms. Leviston’s lawyers asked Judge Nevins to grant an exception, arguing that judges have allowed lawsuits that are in “an advanced state” to continue in earlier cases.

Lawyers for Mr. Jackson fought that request, arguing that he needed a legal timeout “in order to reorganize his financial affairs,” according to court papers.

Judge Nevins ruled in Ms. Leviston’s favor, according to a two-page order filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Hartford, Conn. Mr. Jackson didn’t attend the hearing; his lawyer said he had a longstanding commitment to perform in London.

Mr. Jackson has blamed his financial problems on the more than $20 million cost of judgments in the sex-tape lawsuit and a broken business deal to develop headphones.

Mr. Jackson has sold more than 22 million albums after appearing on the music scene in 2003 with his hit rap song “In Da Club.” The rapper, who has various business pursuits, is scheduled to appear in the upcoming movie “Southpaw,” a boxing drama with Jake Gyllenhaal.

Write to Katy Stech at katy.stech@wsj.com. Follower her on Twitter at @KatyStech