PANAMA CITY — from www.newsherald.com – U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak has denied Joe Francis’ motion for summary judgment in the Girls Gone Wild civil suit. Four local girls filed suit in 2008, saying they were 13 to 17 years old when they were filmed by “Girls Gone Wild” in stages of undress or engaged in sexual activity. The plaintiffs are now adults.

Francis’ attorneys had argued that the evidence in the case was not sufficient to move forward to trial. In a Friday afternoon ruling, Smoak disagreed, saying that there was enough evidence and enough disagreement in the case that it could be presented to a jury. The trial is scheduled for February.