The payment was needed because of police errors during a wrongful death case brought against the city and the L-A-P-D.

In the case, the judge sanctioned the city after learning that a police detective withheld documents that were pertinent to claims made by the rapper's family.

The amount represents the cost of legal fees and other expenses incurred by the family's attorneys. Christopher Wallace, or Notorious B-I-G, was shot and killed in March of 1997 after a party in Los Angeles.

The murder has not been solved.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)