NAMES & FACES

The Wrong Man

ABC News apologized yesterday for mistakenly running a picture of D.C. Council member Marion Barry in a teaser for a "World News" story about a man suing a dry cleaner for $54 million for losing his pants. Both Roy Pearson , who filed the lawsuit, and Barry are black.

According to ABC spokeswoman Natalie Raabe , the mix-up happened because both men appeared in D.C. Superior Court that day, and ABC got video of both. Barry's picture ran on Tuesday when Pearson's story was teased at the beginning of the news. It was corrected for later editions, Raabe said.

"We are deeply sorry for this mistake and apologize to Mr. Barry, Mr. Pearson and to our viewers for the error," ABC News said on its Web site. However, no on-air reference to the mistake was made. According to Raabe, anchor Charles Gibson unsuccessfully tried to reach Barry for a personal apology.

It was the second time this month that a news organization has misidentified prominent black men. Last week, Fox News apologized for running tape of House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers while reporting on the indictment of Rep. William J. Jefferson on bribery charges.

50 Cent's Two Cents Unnecessary

Rapper 50 Cent won't have to testify in the upcoming assault trial of NBA basketball star Allen Iverson , a U.S. District Court judge ruled yesterday, according to The Post's Carol D. Leonnig.

50 Cent, whose legal name is Curtis James Jackson III, had received a subpoena to appear at Iverson's trial in Washington's federal court from lawyers for Marlin Godfrey and David Anthony Kittrell .

The two Maryland men are the lead plaintiffs in a civil suit against Iverson regarding an alleged fracas in 2005 at the D.C. nightclub Eyebar. The complaint charges that Iverson's security detail began an unprovoked attack on the men that left Godfrey with a concussion and Kittrell and the two club bouncers with cuts and bruises. The plaintiffs contend that Iverson is responsible for his security crew.

According to the suit, Iverson and his detail arrived at the club in the wee hours of July 20 and confronted Godfrey and Kittrell, who were sitting in the VIP section, where the former Hoya wanted to lounge.

50 Cent's testimony was apparently sought because he was familiar with Iverson's security dudes. But the rapper argued that he should not have to comply with the subpoena since he was not involved in the fight or named in the lawsuit.

Judge Ellen Huvelle said 50 Cent cannot be compelled to testify in the civil case because he does not live within 100 miles of the court district and there is no evidence he regularly conducts business in Maryland, as plaintiffs suggest.

Iverson, a 32-year-old former rookie of the year, spent 10 years as a point guard with the Philadelphia 76ers before falling out of favor with the team and being traded to the Denver Nuggets last year.