Sean "Diddy" Combs had another big legal win. One of the lawsuits against him was thrown out. A federal judge dismissed the case of an unnamed plaintiff, "Jane Doe," after she missed the court's deadline to refile under her real name.
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed the case after the identified plaintiff in the decades-old incident failed to meet a deadline of March 20 to amend the complaint with her legal name. The court had denied her request to remain anonymous, and with no further filings or requests for an extension, the judge formally closed the case. Diddy's legal representatives quickly denounced a trend of frivolous lawsuits filed against the music mogul.
"Today, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought against Mr. Combs by Anthony Buzbee, Esquire, and his local counsel Antigone Curis on behalf of an anonymized plaintiff," a spokesperson for Diddy said. "This is now the second case filed by these attorneys against Mr. Combs that has been dismissed. It will not be the last."
Buzbee and Curis have led multiple lawsuits against Diddy in the Southern District of New York, but their cases have started to fall apart. Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil signed an Order to Show Cause against Curis, requiring her to show cause why she doesn't deserve sanctions regarding inconsistencies in filings related to Buzbee's pro hac vice admission to appear in the case.
But Curis also submitted an order in which the Southern District of New York rejected Buzbee's application. This contradiction has raised questions about the credibility of the filings and could have serious consequences.
Diddy's legal team has also accused Buzbee of wrongdoing, alleging that he practiced law in the district without permission in 22 cases and issued public comments that threatened the integrity of the legal proceedings.
"In our joint decades of practice, undersigned counsel have never opposed a pro hac vice application, and we certainly do not do so lightly here," Diddy's lawyers said in a filing dated February 26. "But Buzbee's extreme misconduct merits that the privilege of practicing in this District be denied" to him.
Buzbee has filed to withdraw from every lawsuit he filed against Diddy in the Southern District in response, marking a significant shakeup in the ongoing legal battle.
This is Diddy's second major courtroom win in recent weeks. A separate lawsuit from Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones was significantly reduced when a federal judge threw out significant claims, including a civil RICO and breach of contract claims. Although 14 causes of action remain in that case, the ruling cleared away some of the most serious accusations.
Another legal headache might be brewing for Diddy's accusers: a sanctions hearing for Curis is scheduled for April 14. For now, Diddy's legal team is trying to leave no doubt that they're not giving up, and the courtroom tide appears to be turning in their favor.
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