American rapper Flo Rida has managed to worm his way out of paying nearly $400,000 in damages to Australian festival Fat As Butter for failing to perform at the event, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
A three-judge panel upheld Flo Rida's appeal, finding that Facebook and email were not appropriate means of serving an international rapper with a summons to appear in court.
"Personal service on the defendant is the primary means of service under the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules," said Justice Robert McFarlan.
"That did not occur in relation to Flo Rida ... Unless the primary judge's order for substituted service [of the summons] was properly made and overcame the apparent lack of jurisdiction to proceed with the action against Flo Rida, the appeal must succeed and the primary judgment for damages set aside."
In April of 2012 Flo Rida was ordered to pay the Newcastle festival damages after he disappointed 11,000 fans when he told organisers minutes after he was due to go on that he would not be performing. The organisers were forced to tell the crowd that the rapper had slept in and would not be able to make it to the festival.
