Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs are seeking to dismiss a Jane Doe sex trafficking lawsuit against the hip-hop mogul, arguing that an extension of the statute of limitations created by New York City’s progressive city council is invalid. The lawsuit accuses Combs and two executives of sexually assaulting an 11th-grader in 2003. Combs’ lawyer called the allegations false and hideous, claiming that the claims have caused damage to Combs’ reputation and business standing without evidence being presented. The argument centers around the expiration of the statute of limitations and extension windows created by New York’s Child Victims Act.
New York Mayor Eric Adams previously gave Combs the symbolic “key to the city,” but Combs’ legal troubles have since emerged. The City Council’s 2022 amendment to the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law created another two-year extension window for filing claims beginning on March 1, 2023. Combs’ attorneys are disputing the validity of this city law, arguing that state law takes precedence over city law without exception. They are asking the court to close that window, with one of the law’s backers known for supporting “defund the police.”
The attorney for the Jane Doe in the case is confident that the judge will not rule in Combs’ favor, calling the motion a desperate attempt to avoid accountability. Legal experts have varying expectations for the success of Combs’ motion to dismiss, with some praising the argument made by Combs’ lawyers and others believing the case will move forward. The civil complaint includes images of the victim in a music studio linked to Combs, alongside two of his entertainment companies and another man identified as “Third Assailant.”
Combs has not been charged with a crime and has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. He has faced multiple similar lawsuits and federal raids on his properties as part of a Homeland Security Investigations probe. In addition to the sex abuse lawsuits, Combs is also facing litigation related to leaving a design firm in New Orleans responsible for $100,000 in material costs after postponing an event. The lawyer in that case expects to see more business-related lawsuits against Combs in the future.
