Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Psychic Network

A Los Angeles judge ruled Friday that the Psychic Readers Network--psychic or not--could not be expected to know about a lawsuit against it if it wasn’t served with the proper papers.

Superior Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper dismissed the suit after plaintiffs’ lawyers failed to appear in court to explain why they did not formally notify the defendants they were being sued.

The suit accused the network and its television spokesman, actor Billy Dee Williams, of fraud, negligent misrepresentation and invasion of privacy in connection with an infomercial about the Northridge earthquake.

The action was filed by the owners of a Granada Hills apartment building, and by Rocco and Andina Maramonte, who now live in Beverly Hills but used to reside in the structure.

Rocco Maramonte, the suit alleged, was injured when the building was damaged in the quake. Subsequently, he suffered “severe and enduring emotional distress” from repeated broadcasts of the infomercial, which included footage of the Maramontes’ damaged apartment, the suit said.