Ludacris testifies in Markham in dispute over canceled appearances
BY JON SEIDEL Staff Reporter jseidel@suntimes.com January 16, 2013 2:40PM
Updated: January 17, 2013 5:13PM
Rapper Ludacris appeared Wednesday morning at the Cook County courthouse in Markham to testify at a trial over a pair of canceled appearances in the south suburbs six years ago.
Ludacris, whose real name is Christopher Brian Bridges, entered and left Judge Robert Clifford’s courtroom through a rear entrance. Dressed in a gray suit, white shirt and dark tie, he calmly answered lawyers’ questions amid what appeared to be enhanced security.
He testified he’s been “commercially successful” in the entertainment industry since 2000, and since then he said he has never dealt personally with promoters. Instead, he said he’s left that up to a manager, Jeff Dixon, who he’s trusted “absolutely” for 13 years.
Ludacris, who lives in Atlanta, said he was told a November 2006 concert planned at the Jo River Center in Dolton was canceled because of a fire. His attorney said a January 2007 party appearance at a nightclub in Harvey didn’t happen because the rapper wasn’t paid.
