Flo Rida Challenges Fat As Butter Fine On Eve Of This Year's Event

American rapper Flo Rida has appealed against the $400,000 fine he was slapped with by an Australian court after he failed to appear at last year's Fat As Butter festival.

On the eve of this year's event, it has emerged that representatives for Flo Rida – real name Tramar Dillard – have disputed the way the festival issued his summons, which was through Facebook – unprecedented for Australia.

News.com.au are reporting that they are not disputing the basis of the damages.

Not only a no-show for the Fat As Butter festival, neither Dillard nor his agent attended the court hearing in August when the $417,345 in damages, including transport and loss of revenue, were awarded to the festival's promoters.

The appeal says that Hustice Judith Gibson did not have the jurisdiction to serve Dillard's summons via Facebook and as a result, it “was not validly served on the appellant (Dillard).”

Fast As Butter's lawyer Matt Hourn, of Neville & Hourn Legal, told News.com.au that, “We will be lodging documents alleging the appeal filed on behalf of Flo Rida is incompetent, as the proper course should have been to set aside the judgment in the District Court.”

He added, “On a positive note, this is the first we have heard from Flo Rida or his representatives since the case began. In any event, we will be seeking security for costs – in other words, money up front – from Flo Rida before the appeal is heard.”

As it stands, the Fat As Butter festival will receive proceeds of Dillard's Australian earnings until the fine is paid under a 'freezing order', essentially putting a halt to any lucrative Australian career for the rapper.