HispanicBusiness

A U.S. District Court judge in Columbia has ordered boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr., to perform 40 hours of community service after missing a deposition in a lawsuit by an Orangeburg music producer.

The order issued on Monday is related to a copyright infringement case filed against Mayweather, his production company and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. by Orangeburg's Anthony Lawrence Dash.

Dash, a music producer, alleges that a rhythmic music sample he created called the Tony Gunz beat was unlawfully used by Mayweather at two WWE Events.

As part of his entrance into the ring at the two events, Mayweather played a song called "YEP," a song Corey Harris, manager of Philthy Rich Records, testified he created in 2007. Dash alleges "YEP" infringes on the Tony Gunz beat, which he said he created in 2005.

Dash filed the case in 2010, but Mayweather has yet to be deposed. An initial date of July 11 was rescheduled for Sept. 29 because Mayweather argued the deposition would interfere with his training for a Sept. 17 boxing match. On Sept. 26, Mayweather alerted Dash that he would not be able to attend because he was recovering from injuries suffered during the fight.

On Sept. 30, Dash filed a motion for sanctions, submitting video evidence that Mayweather appeared at an Atlanta club on the night of Sept. 29, the date of the rescheduled deposition. He appeared at another club the next day. In the video, Mayweather was seen throwing money into the crowd. He is also seen burning money.

"The court finds that his actions in this case justify sanctions and that such sanctions are necessary to deter Mayweather or similarly situated parties from 'trampling upon the integrity of the court'," wrote Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., who cited another case where Mayweather was sanctioned for failing to appear.

Mayweather must complete the service at the Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity project by Jan. 31.