DJ Samantha Ronson has settled a legal dispute with celebrity blogger Perez Hilton by paying her outstanding legal costs - just three days before she was due to appear in court.

Ronson - the sister of British producer Mark Ronson - sued Hilton for defamation after he accused her of being the owner of cocaine found in girlfriend Lindsay Lohan's vehicle following the actress' car accident in Los Angeles in May 2007.

The case was thrown out of court last November, and Hilton - real name Mario Lavandeira - was subsequently awarded costs amounting to more than $86,000.

Hilton then filed for a judgement debtor examination hearing, set for Monday at Los Angeles Superior Court, because Ronson refused to pay up.

But on Friday, Ronson finally handed over a cheque for $86,832 - meaning she will not have to appear in court.

Hilton's lawyer Bryan J. Freeman says, "For fear of having to appear in court, she paid off the judgement."