Judge dismisses five counts in $30 million lawsuit against rapper Diddy
Kyiv • UNN
Judge partially grants Diddy's motion to dismiss sexual assault lawsuit. RICO, emotional distress, and breach of contract claims dismissed.
Judge J. Paul Etken granted and dismissed several charges against Sean "Diddy" Combs in a case where former producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones filed a $30 million lawsuit accusing the musician of sexual assault. This is reported by Variety, writes UNN.
Details
According to reports, Jones initially filed a lawsuit against Combs in New York in February 2024, claiming that Combs had made unwanted sexual advances and forced him to hire sex workers and engage in relationships with them. Jones named Combs, as well as a "RICO organization" consisting of his son Justin, his chief of staff Christina Horram, Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge, former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam, numerous record labels, as well as Jane and John Doe. He then re-filed several amended complaints in the following months.
But in a ruling filed earlier, Judge J. Paul Etken granted and dismissed parts of Combs' August 2024 motion to dismiss the case. The ruling also reprimanded Jones' attorney Tyrone Blackburn, and his conduct regarding the motion was described as "disturbing."
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In his ruling, the judge also dismissed the RICO charges, claims of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, and protection of trafficking victims. However, the judge allowed the case to proceed on charges of sexual assault and liability that remain under investigation.
Jones' attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, received a stern warning from the judge for inaccuracies and insults in the filings. Blackburn vowed that the case would not end there and that the next step would be to open up additional evidence.
In a statement provided to Variety, Blackburn commented, "A win is a win. Game time is over. Now it's time for discoveries."
Jones filed the lawsuit in February 2024 after producing six songs for Combs' Grammy-nominated album "The Love Album: Off the Grid," which was released in September 2023. He claims that Combs purchased, used, and distributed ecstasy, cocaine, and other illegal drugs, displayed illegal firearms, and offered minors and sex workers in his homes alcoholic beverages with additives, as well as other allegations.
After Jones filed two amended complaints, Combs filed his own motion to dismiss in August 2024. "Jones' Second Amended Complaint is his third attempt to pass off an ordinary commercial dispute as an obscene RICO conspiracy," the motion said. "It is nearly 100 pages long, replete with countless fabrications, shameless name-dropping of celebrities and images unrelated to the case. Yet, despite all its hyperbole and blatant theatricality, the SAC fails to state any plausible claim against any of the Combs defendants."
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