Sean “Diddy” Combs gained a authorized battle as a decide dominated his John Doe accuser can’t stay nameless in a high-profile sexual assault lawsuit.
Sean “Diddy” Combs notched one other courtroom victory as a federal decide in New York dominated {that a} man accusing the music mogul of sexual assault should reveal his identification.
The lawsuit was filed in October by a person recognized solely as “John Doe.”
John Doe claims he was 17 years outdated when he met Diddy at a Miami nightclub in 2003. He was launched to the Hip-Hop heavyweight underneath the pretense of profession prospects.
In response to the lawsuit, {the teenager} was later invited to Diddy’s house, the place he alleges he was provided a drink that induced bodily weak spot and disorientation. The submitting claims Diddy then drugged and sexually assaulted him.
Trying to protect his identification, the accuser argued in court docket that disclosing his title would expose him to potential public backlash, harassment, and deep emotional misery.
His authorized crew cited Diddy’s alleged historical past of intimidation ways to assist the request for anonymity, asserting that their shopper feared retaliation.
Diddy’s legal professional fired again, arguing that the allegations had been each severe and reputationally damaging, making it essentially unfair for the plaintiff to proceed with out disclosing his identification.
In his ruling, U.S. District Decide Lewis Kaplan sided with Diddy, stating that whereas anonymity could also be granted underneath particular circumstances, it isn’t assured in civil instances, particularly these involving high-profile defendants.
The choice marks the second pivotal ruling Kaplan has issued that Diddy’s authorized crew is leveraging to his benefit.
In a separate case involving the Alexander brothers — former actual property builders accused of gender-motivated violence — Kaplan just lately decided that sure claims introduced underneath the New York Metropolis Gender-Motivated Violence Act (VGM) had been invalid because of timing conflicts with broader state legal guidelines just like the Grownup Survivors Act (ASA).
Whereas the decide didn’t dismiss the substantive allegations in opposition to the Alexanders on their deserves, Kaplan dominated that the swimsuit was time-barred underneath authorized technicalities.
Now, Diddy’s attorneys are pointing to that precedent in an effort to remove comparable lawsuits. Diddy has confronted a rising variety of authorized battles after federal sexual misconduct instances emerged in opposition to the entrepreneur in current months.
His legal professionals allege that many of those claims are opportunistic, aiming to capitalize on the tidal wave of lawsuits filed underneath loosening statutes of limitation legal guidelines.
Diddy is locked away on the MDC jail in Brooklyn, the place he’s awaiting trial for intercourse trafficking and RICO expenses.
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