A federal judge dismissed five of the nine claims in a $30 million sexual assault lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs on Monday, granting the music mogul a partial legal victory while allowing key sexual assault allegations to proceed.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken in the Southern District of New York, threw out claims including those brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the Trafficking Victims Protection Act against Combs' company Combs Global, breach of contract, and both negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Combs and his legal team had filed a motion to dismiss in August 2024, following multiple amended complaints from plaintiff Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, a former music producer who worked on Combs' Grammy-nominated The Love Album: Off the Grid. Jones filed the initial complaint in February 2024, alleging sexual misconduct, forced participation in sex acts, drug distribution, and a criminal enterprise involving multiple individuals and corporate entities.
Jones named Combs, his son Justin Combs, Combs' chief of staff Kristina Khorram, Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge, and former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam among others in what he described as a "RICO enterprise." However, Judge Oetken wrote in the order that Jones failed to articulate a viable legal theory: "It should not be necessary to root around a 402-paragraph complaint to contrive novel arguments on Jones's behalf."
The court also criticized Jones' attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn, for filings the judge described as "replete with inaccurate statements of law, conclusory accusations, and inappropriate ad hominem attacks on opposing counsel." The judge warned that future misconduct could result in sanctions or disciplinary action.
In response to the ruling, Blackburn stated to TMZ and Variety, "A win is a win. Play time is over. Now, it is time for discovery."
The court preserved several claims in the case, including those related to sexual assault and liability under the TVPA against Combs and Khorram individually. These allegations accuse Combs of making unwanted sexual advances and coercing Jones into hiring and engaging with sex workers, often under the influence of controlled substances.
Combs has denied the accusations and characterized the lawsuit as an opportunistic attempt to extract money through sensationalism. In a filing responding to Jones' second amended complaint, Combs' attorneys wrote, "Jones' Second Amended Complaint is his third attempt to dress up a run of the mill commercial disagreement as a salacious RICO conspiracy."
"Running to nearly 100 pages, it includes countless tall tales, shameless celebrity namedrops, and irrelevant images. Yet, despite all its hyperbole and lurid theatrics, the SAC fails to state a single viable claim against any of the Combs Defendants," the motion read.
Jones, who claims to have produced six tracks on Combs' 2023 album, further alleged that Combs used and distributed ecstasy and cocaine, displayed illegal firearms, and laced alcoholic drinks served to minors and sex workers during gatherings at his homes.
