A judge has reinstated a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of the Notorious B.I.G. against the city of Los Angeles, which reverses a previous ruling that dismissed the case.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper threw out the lawsuit in March after determining the family missed a state deadline for bringing a claim against the city and two former police officers.

The lawsuit was originally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, and was later moved to federal court.

After the dismissal, the family appealed the decision, and the judge reversed her decision after finding federal claims in the case can proceed, according to court papers.

The judge has given the family 20 days to file a new lawsuit, and drop the state claims, reports the AP.

There has been two wrongful death lawsuits filed against the city of Los Angeles by the rapper's family -- including his widow, mother and two children.

The first was filed in 2002, which ended in a mistrial in 2005. The suit is still active, with the judge allowing the family to amend the lawsuit because of newly discovered evidence.

This recent ruling was in regard to the second lawsuit filed, which claims that rogue police officers conspired to kill Wallace and that the Police Department covered up their involvement.

The Notorious B.I.G. (real name: Christopher Wallace) was gunned down on March 9, 1997 after leaving a party at a Los Angeles museum. His murder remains unsolved. He was just 24 years old.