Judge finds spinning records can create a public figure

CBS in Los Angeles reports that a Los Angeles judge dismissed a defamation suit against blogger Perez Hilton (nee Mario Lavandeira) for postings on his Web site about disc jockey Samantha Ronson and her relationship with actress Lindsay Lohan.

Judge Elihu M. Berle found the suit was frivolous, concluding that celebrity drug use is a matter of public concern and that Ronson was, at the very least, a limited purpose public figure based in part on the company she keeps. Specifically, the judge pointed to her friendship with Lohan and previous gigs – such as spinning at Jessica Simpson’s birthday party – as proof that she thrust herself into the public eye.

Ronson sued Lavandeira after he reposted comments from CelebrityBabylon.com that accused Ronson of planting cocaine in Lohan’s car and tipping off paparazzi as to Lohan’s location.