Sean "Diddy" Combs has taken legal action to bar Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee from representing clients against him in the Southern District of New York, arguing that Buzbee improperly filed 22 lawsuits without authorization to practice in the jurisdiction. In a court motion filed Tuesday, Combs' legal team accused Buzbee of "egregious misconduct" and requested that a judge block his participation in these cases.
Buzbee, who has represented multiple plaintiffs in high-profile lawsuits against Combs, has become a central figure in the legal battle surrounding the music mogul. Many of his cases have been announced through public press conferences, where he and his clients have accused Combs of sexual assault and trafficking. Combs' attorneys argue that Buzbee's tactics violate New York's Rules of Professional Conduct and that his repeated statements declaring Combs guilty without trial further undermine his credibility.
"For nearly five months, Buzbee has filed case after case in this district against [Combs] in the name of anonymous plaintiffs without seeking admission of any kind and without disclosing his lack of admission," the motion states. It also notes that Buzbee was recently denied admission to the Southern District of New York by the Chair of the Committee on Grievances on February 13 due to his previous unauthorized filings.
Typically, attorneys not licensed in a federal district must obtain permission through a pro hac vice application, allowing them to temporarily represent clients in that jurisdiction. While Buzbee has now submitted such an application, Combs' legal team is urging the court to deny it, stating, "Buzbee's egregious misconduct warrants denial of the privilege of appearing in this District."
The legal dispute extends beyond Combs' filings. Jay-Z's attorneys previously raised similar concerns in a lawsuit last year, in which they accused Buzbee of extortion and improper legal tactics. Combs' attorneys referenced that case in their motion, emphasizing that Buzbee has a pattern of sidestepping procedural requirements.
Combs' defense team further criticized Buzbee for failing to secure judicial approval before filing his lawsuits and for publicly asserting Combs' guilt in ongoing criminal proceedings. "In our collective decades of practice, undersigned counsel have never opposed a pro hac vice application, and we do not do so lightly here," the filing states.
Buzbee has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. Meanwhile, Combs remains in custody in Brooklyn as he awaits trial, scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.
