AceShowbiz - Daddy Yankee has landed a small victory in a breach of contract lawsuit filed against him by a group of U.S. musicians - a Massachusetts judge has dismissed the case because the Latin rapper has no ties to the state. Members of the Springfield Crew, a band from Springfield, Massachusetts, claim they were lured to the artist's native Puerto Rico by a producer affiliated to Yankee to collaborate on writing and recording an album.

But they claim once they arrived, they were forced to live in a tiny room with no furniture and sleep on the floor for months as they worked on new material. They also alleged they were never compensated for their efforts and accused the "Gasolina" hitmaker of copyright infringement over his 2008 song "Salgo Pa la Calle".

However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth P. Neiman has ruled in Yankee's favor this week after his attorneys proved he had no real association with Massachusetts, where the lawsuit was filed. The reggaeton icon, real name Ramon Ayala, has only played one concert in the state, in Boston in 2009, and has previously received an honor from Harvard University in recognition of his charity work with at-risk youths - an award the judge ruled was "unrelated to his musical career".

Judge Neiman subsequently dismissed the claims for breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress, although he allowed the Springfield musicians to pursue their copyright complaint.