Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing a $400 million legal battle with Michigan inmate Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who alleges that the music mogul assaulted him during a 1997 encounter at a Holiday Inn in Detroit. In a complex and controversial case, Diddy has vehemently denied all claims, describing them as "baseless" and part of a campaign of "fraud on the court."
The legal dispute has been marked by a series of filings, with Cardello-Smith claiming a "sexual assault kit" exists as evidence of the alleged incident, according to In Touch. Diddy's attorney dismissed this assertion, stating, "This simply is not true. No discovery was conducted in this matter in the Lenawee County Circuit Court (or anywhere else), and no such document has ever been tendered to [Diddy]." The rapper's legal team argues that Cardello-Smith's allegations, stemming from an encounter nearly three decades ago, are not only unsupported but also far beyond the statute of limitations.
According to Cardello-Smith's account, he met Diddy while working as a bartender. The inmate alleges that he was invited to a sex party hosted by the hip-hop star, during which he claims Diddy spiked his drink. Cardello-Smith claims he fell unconscious and later woke up in distress, alleging further abuse. "I stayed sitting there and began getting drowsy," Cardello-Smith stated in court documents. He accused Diddy of orchestrating a cover-up with local law enforcement officials, though Diddy's attorneys have dismissed these assertions as far-fetched and implausible.
Diddy's legal team highlighted numerous inconsistencies in Cardello-Smith's claims. "Incredibly, in two different complaints filed in two different courts, [Derrick] alleges that this purported assault occurred in two different counties on the same day," said Diddy's attorney. The defense has asked the court to dismiss the case, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations, which would have ended in 2000.
Cardello-Smith has maintained his version of events, recently submitting testimony from a fellow inmate who purportedly witnessed elements of the case. However, Diddy's legal team questioned the credibility of this "key witness," noting the coincidental nature of their shared incarceration. "The notion that some twenty-seven years after the alleged events at issue... Mr. Cardello-Smith just located a key witness who just so happens to be incarcerated in the very same correctional facility... is, to put it charitably, as implausible on its face," Diddy's lawyer Erica A. Wolff said.
Further complicating matters, Cardello-Smith has sought financial damages and claims to possess a 1997 "agreement of silence and confidentiality" allegedly signed by Diddy and several others, including Michigan officials. The document purportedly outlines a conspiracy to conceal the incident, but its authenticity has been hotly contested.
In a separate development, Cardello-Smith secured a $100 million default judgment against Diddy in a civil suit. The judgment was granted due to the absence of any legal response from Diddy's side. However, the rapper's legal team has vowed to overturn the ruling, asserting that Diddy was neither served with the lawsuit nor aware of the proceedings. "This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator... Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed," stated Diddy's attorney Marc Agnifilo.
Cardello-Smith, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for unrelated charges of sexual assault and kidnapping, claims that his prison experiences have shaped his perspective on the alleged 1997 incident. "I've gone through years of therapy in prison to understand that I am not responsible for what happened to me," he stated.
The case continues to draw attention amid a growing list of legal challenges faced by Diddy. He has categorically denied all accusations, including unrelated assault allegations made by other individuals. While the legal battles unfold, Diddy's attorneys maintain that Cardello-Smith's claims are "ridiculous and totally false," signaling a contentious fight ahead in the courts.
