Diddy seeks to dismiss some claims in assault lawsuit

Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs are contesting a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault by seeking to dismiss certain claims based on their non-existence at the time of the alleged incident. Filed in a New York court, the motion argues that some accusations, including those related to revenge porn and human trafficking, are not applicable to events said to have occurred in 1991 when Joi Dickerson-Neal first made her allegations.

Dickerson-Neal alleges that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her in his home following a date in Harlem when she was 19 years old and a college student. Additionally, she claims that Combs recorded the assault without her consent and later showed the video to friends within the music industry. Combs has denied these accusations, suggesting that Dickerson-Neal is attempting to capitalize on a temporary extension of the statute of limitations in New York.

The legal team for Combs is not only seeking dismissal based on these grounds but also has strongly refuted what they describe as “numerous false, offensive, and salacious accusations” within the lawsuit. They note that the alleged misconduct happened nearly three decades ago and highlight that the New York State Revenge Porn Law under which Dickerson-Neal is filing was not enacted until 2019. They also mention that the New York Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Law only took effect in 2007.

This lawsuit comes amidst a broader legal challenge for Combs, as federal authorities recently raided his properties in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex trafficking investigation. This action marks a significant intensification of legal scrutiny for Combs, who has faced multiple sexual abuse allegations in recent lawsuits.

In a notable case settled just a day after its filing last November, Combs’ former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, accused him of extensive sexual abuse, including instances where he allegedly forced her to engage in sexual acts with male prostitutes while he filmed them. Additionally, in February, a music producer sued Combs, claiming coercion to solicit prostitutes and pressure to engage in sexual activities with them.

Another lawsuit involves an accuser who claims Combs raped her two decades ago when she was 17. Combs and his legal representatives have denied all allegations made in these lawsuits.