March 10^th, 2002 (12:00am) - A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit that claimed Time Warner Inc. and other entertainment companies produced works that drove two teenagers to gun down and kill a teacher and 12 fellow students in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

The family of Dave Sanders, a teacher who was fatally shot during the massacre in Littleton, Colorado, brought the suit against Time Warner, now known as AOL Time Warner (NYSE:AOL - news) ,and the company’s New Line Cinema as makers and distributors of ``The Basketball Diaries.’’

After the shooting, it was discovered that gunmen Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, -- who were also killed during the massacre-- were avid fans of violent video games and the movie ``The Basketball Diaries.’’

In the movie, the protagonist guns down his teacher and some classmates in cold blood.

The family also sued producers of video games such as Acclaim Entertainment (NasdaqSC:AKLM - news), Atari Corp. and Nintendo’s Nintendo of America unit, saying the two young men were unduly influenced by the games.

But U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock said courts around the United States have rejected similar claims brought against media or entertainment defendants.

The judge said the two gunmen were the ones responsible for the teacher’s death.