A federal judge yesterday (November 26) allowed the family of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. to include three Los Angeles detectives as defendants in their wrongful-death lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles.

B.I.G., whose real name is Christopher Wallace, was shot and killed on March 9, 1997 after a party at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

The Wallace’s lawsuit accuses two convicted cops, Raphael Perez and David Mack, of conspiring to kill B.I.G. with Deathrow Records founder Suge Knight and a former LAPD officer, Reggie Wright, Jr.

The suit also claims the city of L.A. helped cover up evidence attaching the aforementioned cops to B.I.G.’s murder because it would have made them liable in a lawsuit.

The detectives accused of helping with the cover up are Stanley Nalywaiko and Stuart Maislin of the LAPD’s Risk Management Group and Steven Katz.

Judge Florence-Marie Cooper, who made the ruling Monday, declared a mistrial in the Wallace’s first lawsuit against L.A. in 2005 after finding evidence that showed Katz had hidden statements linking Perez and Mack Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. > to B.I.G’s murder.

“Judge Cooper's ruling today gives the family a chance to prove to the world that police were involved in the murder and that high officials have covered up for those officers.” said the Wallace family's lead attorney, Perry R. Sanders Jr., via a statement.

“"The family is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to hold accountable some of the key the people involved in the cover-up,” he added.

Last week, Cooper allowed the Wallace’s to add Knight to their lawsuit.  The hip hop mogul has yet to comment on the suit.