A US federal judge in Connecticut has ruled that a lawsuit over a sex tape can proceed against rapper 50 Cent, despite his bankruptcy filing.

A New York jury awarded Lastonia Leviston $US5 million ($A6.75 million) last week after determining the rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson III, didn’t have her permission when he posted online a sexually explicit video she made with her boyfriend.

The jury was to consider punitive damages on Monday, but Jackson filed for bankruptcy that day in Connecticut, temporarily stalling Leviston’s lawsuit.

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Her lawyer alleged Jackson filed for bankruptcy to evade testifying in the New York case.

A lawyer for Jackson didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment on the judge’s ruling on Friday.

Leviston’s lawyer, Philip Freidin, told a local paper he’s pleased the New York case will be resuming on Monday.