Judge dismisses claim that Minnelli beat husband

A judge threw out a $10 million civil assault lawsuit Monday filed against Liza Minnelli by her estranged husband, David Gest, who claimed she beat him so badly during alcoholic rages he had to be hospitalized.

New York Supreme Court Justice Jane Solomon granted Minnelli's motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that Gest's doctor had failed to rebut the 60-year-old actress-singer's medical expert, who said Gest's headaches were caused by a strain of herpes that causes shingles and not by beatings.