JAY-Z has claimed a major legal victory in his feud with Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee. On Wednesday (March 26), a judge in Los Angeles ruled that the rap mogul's extortion case against Buzbee was on the books, delivering in part on newly released audio recordings that are paramount evidence.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Epstein signaled early in the proceeding that he might dismiss JAY-Z's claim. But in an extraordinary reversal, he said newly obtained recordings had "thrown a monkey wrench" into his previous thinking.
Those recordings were made by a private investigator at the Alabama residence of the woman who has been publicly identified as Jane Doe, and they allegedly include remarks to the effect that "Buzbee brought JAY-Z into it." This discovery shows that Doe did not permit Buzbee to bring JAY-Z into her lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs and that Buzbee supposedly pushed her to include the Roc Nation founder as an assailant.
Judge Epstein said the recordings were significant, noting that they "support not only the defamation cause of action but also the extortion cause of action."
JAY-Z initially filed the suit in November 2024, accusing Buzbee of trying to extort him with a demand letter for private mediation and a monetary payout. In a sworn declaration, the hip-hop mogul called the letter an "existential threat" to his career and reputation.
Buzbee, representing several plaintiffs in lawsuits against Diddy, has denied any wrongdoing. He brushed off accusations that he pressured Doe to make false allegations as a "blatant lie."
For her part, Doe has since claimed that the recordings, when played, were manipulated to create a false impression of her statements. But JAY-Z's lawyer, Alex Spiro, disputed this account, claiming earlier this month that "the tape speaks for itself" and that any implication of his client's involvement was "a lie."
The legal drama involving JAY-Z and Buzbee followed Jane Doe's lawsuit against both JAY-Z and Diddy, which was dismissed with prejudice last month, which prevented her from re-filing the case.
After the dismissal, JAY-Z wasted no time hitting back at the "untrue" claims when he filed a defamation lawsuit against Doe and her legal team, claiming the false accusal had "irreparably damaged" his career and reputation.
Though she dropped her lawsuit against the state, Doe stands by her allegations. In the end, fear of intimidation prompted her to drop the case, she said in a sworn declaration.
With Judge Epstein permitting the case to proceed, the focus has now turned to the next hearing, set for April 7. With new evidence constantly being revealed, the high-profile legal fight between JAY-Z and Buzbee shows no signs of letup. This case isn't even close to over, and the hip-hop world will keep an eye on it.
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