Humperdinck Lawsuit Against Paper Dismissed

A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed a $50-million lawsuit brought by Engelbert Humperdinck against The National Enquirer, which reported that the mother of the singer’s daughter feared he had the AIDS virus.

U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall dismissed the libel lawsuit last week, said Humperdinck’s attorney, Robert Rotstein. Rotstein said Humperdinck would appeal.

Humperdinck, 53, has tested negative for the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Rotstein said.

Mike Walker, a National Enquirer editor, said Monday that the Lantana, Fla.-based newspaper stood behind the article, which he said was based on a court filing and was therefor not libelous.

Humperdinck claimed the Enquirer’s story, which ran Dec. 27, 1988, was false and malicious.