Eminem's mother 'can't sue rapper'

Eminem leaving Oakland County Court in April

A Michigan judge has prevented Eminem's mother from claiming more money after settling legal action against the rapper.

The move came as Eminem was awaiting sentencing for brandishing a weapon during an argument with a rival rap group. That case has now been put back until later this month.

Debbie R Mathers-Briggs originally sued for a total of $12m (8.5m) over Eminem's portrayal of her as an unstable drug user in interviews, but settled for $25,000 (£17,736).

Eminem received two years' probation in April

She later attempted to reopen the claim against her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III.

But the judge ruled that she had forfeited her legal rights by settling.

"If someone feels remorse subsequent to it, that doesn't change that it is a settlement, established in writing by agents of the parties," Macomb County Circuit Judge Mark S Switalski ruled on Monday.

Mathers-Briggs' mother Betty Kresin told The Macomb Daily that her daughter had dropped the lawsuit because she wanted to try "reconciling with her son".

"But then she's told me she wants to bring it back, and then she doesn't, and I don't know what's going on," she said.

Gun sentence postponed

Eminem will now be sentenced on 28 June for pulling out a gun in a public car park during a row with the road manager of the Insane Clown Posse exactly one year ago.

Eminem could face up to five years in prison - but is expected to be put on probation after entering a no contest plea to a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon and a misdemeanor charge of brandishing a weapon.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt - but it is treated as a guilty plea for sentencing purposes.

One condition of the probation is that while he is allowed to move freely around the United States for work purposes, he cannot go abroad without seeking permission from the court.

But this is not expected to affect his festival appearances in Japan and the UK in July and August.

In April, he was sentenced to two years' probation on a separate charge of carrying a concealed weapon outside a Detroit nightclub.

On Thursday Eminem is due to attend a court hearing in Michigan in a legal dispute with his wife over the amount of child support he pays her.