Dona De Sanctis, Executive Director of Sons of Italy (OSIA) has notified me 
that, in a conversation with Ted Grippo, one of the founders of AIDA, that:

AIDA has NOT  "Dropped" its case against 'The Sopranos'. 

In fact, the group is in the process of filing a "Motion for a Rehearing" in the Illinois 
Appellate Court, and is looking into bringing it before the State's Supreme Court.

The recent developments were that: "The case was heard by the Illinois Appellate 
in June.  The written decision of the Appellate Court was handed down earlier 
this week and reaffirmed an earlier judge's decision in the Circuit Court of 
Cook County last year that dismissed the AIDA suit." As previously stated: 
"The Appellate Court upheld the dismissal."  

To expand on Mr. Grippo's remarks, and for those who are interested, very 
sloppy "headline" writing and reporting was involved and led to the confusion. 
The reporter did NOT contact AIDA for a response.

The Appellate Courts have the choice to UPHOLD, OVERTURN, or REMAND 
(Return for Further Proceedings) a Lower Court Decision. Only a Plaintiff 
(Complainant) can DROP a suit. All Plaintiffs have the right to pursue an 
Appeal to the US Supreme Court.

The Associated Press (AP) reportage follows.
===========================================
'SOPRANO'S LAWSUIT DROPPED

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- A lawsuit that accused the makers of the television 
series "The Sopranos" of offending Italian-Americans by depicting them as 
mobsters has been dropped. 

The Italian-American Defense Association had filed the lawsuit against Time 
Warner Entertainment Co. under the "individual dignity" clause of the 
Illinois Constitution. 

The group didn't seek a financial settlement or the HBO show's cancellation, 
but a declaration from a jury that the show offends the dignity of Italian 
Americans, association attorneys said. 

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Richard Siebel dismissed the lawsuit with 
prejudice last September, ruling that the clause in the state's Constitution 
was merely advisory. 

The Illinois Appellate Court upheld that ruling on Friday. 

Time Warner's lawyer, Tom Yannucci, previously argued that viewers wouldn't 
assume from watching the show that all Italian-Americans are mobsters or 
morally corrupt.