A U.S. district court judge in Mississippi has dismissed a lawsuit by the estate of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. over the ownership documents and other items that once belonged to him.
The lawsuit was filed last year against Howard Ballou, an anchor for WLBT-TV in Jackson. It alleges that Ballou's mother, who worked as a personal secretary for the slain civil rights leader, kept documents during the period King ran the Montgomery Improvement Association and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that should belong to King's estate.
Maude Ballou, who lives in Charlotte, N.C., testified that King gave her the materials. The items included a sermon and a statement King made the day after a landmark Supreme Court ruling on segregation.
"I'm ecstatic," said Howard Ballou. "I'm particularly pleased for my mother."
In dismissing the lawsuit, Judge Tom Lee said there was no evidence to contradict the contention that the materials were given freely.
Ballou said he resents how the lawsuit has "besmirched my mother's character and integrity. She risked her life, like so many others, so we could have the life we have today."
Jackson attorney Bob Owens, who represents the estate, said he was disappointed with the ruling and that the estate plans to appeal. Over the years, the King estate has been protective of King's image, words and works. Ballou said his family plans to keep the items.
"It really saddens me that the legacy of one of America's greatest heroes, a person whom I still admire, is constantly and consistently being tarnished by these types of activities," Ballou said. "Dr. King gave me hugs, do they want to take those back too?"
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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