HARTFORD, CONN: A US federal judge in Connecticut has ruled that a lawsuit over a sex tape can proceed against rapper 50 Cent, despite his bankruptcy filing.

A New York jury awarded Lastonia Leviston $5 million last week after determining the rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson III, didn’t have her permission when he posted online a sexually explicit video she made with her boyfriend.

The jury was to consider punitive damages on July 13, but Jackson filed for bankruptcy that day in Connecticut, temporarily stalling Leviston’s lawsuit. Her lawyer alleged Jackson filed for bankruptcy to evade testifying in the New York case.

A lawyer for Jackson didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment on the judge’s ruling July 17.

Leviston’s attorney, Philip Freidin, tells The Hartford Courant he’s pleased the New York case will be resuming on July 20.