Judge throws out LA deal for digitizing billboards

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has thrown out a settlement allowing major outdoor advertising companies to convert more than 800 billboards in Los Angeles into digital displays.

Superior Court Judge Terry Green says in his decision issued Thursday that the city must withdraw from its 2006 agreement with CBS Corp.'s Outdoor division and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. The companies had settled a lawsuit challenging the city's billboard ban at the time.

Green declined to revoke permits already granted for about 100 digital billboards, saying that the city should decide whether to do so.

Summit Media, a smaller billboard company, had sued the city over that settlement, arguing that it violated the rights of firms that can't do billboard conversions.

Messages were left with lawyers for the companies.