Notorious BIG was shot dead in Los Angeles in 1997

They are now expected to name a new defendant and a claim of racketeering in the Los Angeles Police Department.

They had claimed that a police officer was involved in the musician's death in 1997, which remains unsolved.

But the judge said the case could not continue after expressing concern the police had concealed evidence.

Judge Florence-Marie Cooper said that Notorious BIG's family, including his mother and widow Faith Evans, should have their legal costs paid back after making her decision.

Much of the new evidence was uncovered in the office of Steven Katz, who told the court that he forgot it was there.

'Cover-up'

The judge called his oversight "utterly unbelievable".

A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department denied the judge's "conclusions about any type of deliberate cover-up".

The family of the late hip hop star - real name Christopher Wallace - said they brought their claim to shed light on his unsolved murder.

Notorious BIG's last album, Born Again, was released in 1999

There has been speculation that his killing was part of a long-running feud between east and west coast rappers.

He was killed after seven shots were fired into his vehicle on a Los Angeles road.

The civil case, which began on 21 June, heard only three days of evidence.

The prosecution said former officer David Mack used police expertise or equipment to help a hitman murder Notorious BIG, and the LAPD covered up his involvement.

The family say officers worked as security men for Death Row Records and the killing was ordered by label boss Marion "Suge" Knight.