One of the numerous sexual assault lawsuits filed again Sean “Diddy” Combs was dismissed on Monday.
The Jane Doe had claimed the disgraced music mogul attempted to sexually assault her during a 1995 party in New York City, and that Combs hit her when she refused his advances. Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, who filed her suit in October 2024, filed for the woman to proceed anonymously in January but was denied by the court earlier this month.
“The very gravity of the charges, combined with the fact that Plaintiff has presented no evidence of specific and concrete harm from disclosure of her identity and the severe prejudice to Defendants from
keeping that identity confidential, undermine her claim to proceed anonymously,” U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman wrote in an order.
The woman had until March 20 to file an amended complaint with her real name, but failed to do so. “As a result, all pending motions were terminated, and the case has been formally closed,” read the order of dismissal filed Monday.
“This was expected. In this particular case, Jane Doe opted not to proceed. There is a lot of fear amongst these plaintiffs. I thus can’t blame her,” Buzbee told Rolling Stone in a statement. “These are tough cases and they are many times re-traumatizing for those who pursue them. Each case stands on its own merit. This woman chose not to proceed and subject herself to the media circus and the perceived danger she felt. We have to respect that.”
Combs’ legal team issued a statement following the news. “Today a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against Mr. Combs by Texas attorney Anthony Buzbee and his local counsel Antigone Curis on behalf of an anonymized plaintiff,” wrote his attorney. “This is now the second case brought by these attorneys against Mr. Combs that has been dismissed in its entirety. It will not be the last. For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by attorneys more focused on media headlines than legal merit. The other claims, like the one dismissed today, also will not hold up in a court of law.”
Earlier this month, a federal judge dismissed civil racketeering and breach of contract claims filed against him by his former music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. However, much of Jones’ lawsuit survived the dismissal motion brought by Combs, his company, and his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram.
Combs has been sued by more than 50 plaintiffs alleging sexual misconduct following the bombshell rape and sex-trafficking lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in November 2023. Combs is currently charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison. His trial is set for May 5.
From Rolling Stone US
