# Sam Smith Normani Copyright Lawsuit Heads to Trial

> U.S. District Judge rejects Sam Smith and Normani's motion to dismiss copyright case over 'Dancing With A Stranger' hook.
- Title: Sam Smith Normani Copyright Lawsuit Heads to Trial | Shortify
- Summary: U.S. District Judge rejects Sam Smith and Normani's motion to dismiss copyright case over 'Dancing With A Stranger' hook. A federal judge in Los Angeles…
- Keywords: sam darnold, seahawks, seattle, nfl, Sam, Smith, Normani, Copyright, Lawsuit, Heads, Trial, Rolling Stone
- Source: Rolling Stone — https://rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sam-smith-normani-copyright-lawsuit-dancing-with-a-stranger-1235630558
- Author: Nancy Dillon
- Published: 2026-09-23T21:32:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sam darnold, seahawks, seattle, nfl
## Lawsuit heads to trial
U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu denied Sam Smith and Normani's motion to dismiss the copyright case over 'Dancing With A Stranger' hook.
## Judge rejects dismissal bid
The judge rejected Smith and Normani's request to end the case in their favor based on evidence developed since March 2022.
## Judge's reasoning
Judge Hsu stated plaintiffs have sufficiently introduced an issue of material fact regarding striking similarity and independent creation.
## Case history
The lawsuit was filed four years ago, dismissed the following year, and revived on appeal after a 2022 filing.
## Judge's key finding
Hsu found no well-defined standard for determining when musical similarities become 'striking' and that analyzing elements in isolation is improper.
## Plaintiffs' position
Plaintiffs' lawyer Alfred J. Fluehr stated the District Court should let a jury decide musicological issues in the case.
## What happens next
The case will proceed to trial after the judge ruled Smith and Normani's independent creation claims do not justify dismissal.
## Key takeaway

A federal judge in Los Angeles ruled Sam Smith and Normani's 'Dancing With A Stranger' did not infringe copyright after a four-year lawsuit over song similarities.