Suit against Berry dismissed

A federal judge has thrown out a royalties lawsuit against Chuck Berry by former collaborator Johnnie Johnson, ruling that too many years had passed since the more than 30 songs in dispute were written.

Johnson, a piano player, sued Berry in November 2000 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis over royalties generated by songs written from 1955-66. They include some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most famous songs, including “No Particular Place to Go,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Sweet Little Sixteen.”

The lawsuit argued that Johnson and Berry were co-writers on many of the songs Berry made famous, but because Berry copyrighted them in his name alone, Johnson got none of the royalties. Johnson’s attorney said they hadn’t decided whether to appeal.