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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A federal appeals court in Virginia has ruled against 28 defendants who simply ignored a lawsuit over a sex tape they falsely claimed featured Miss West Virginia 2003.

Allison Williams won a $7.2 million verdict in 2009 against nine Internet companies and individuals who promoted the video. U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley dismissed 28 other defendants who did not respond to the complaint, ruling she lacked jurisdiction.

The judge refused to reconsider, and Williams appealed. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond ruled in her favor last week and ordered Keeley to enter a default judgment against the 28 defendants.

The court said the companies and individuals ignored the lawsuit at their own peril.