An Alabama woman who says she was raped by Jay-Z and Sean (Diddy) Combs when she was 13 years old can go forward anonymously, for now, in her lawsuit against the rap moguls, a judge ruled Thursday.
In her written order, Judge Analisa Torres fired the attorney representing Jay-Z for what she described as his controversial gestures and “inflammatory language” against the plaintiff's attorney, calling them inappropriate.
A Manhattan judge said the woman can proceed anonymously at this early stage of the trial, but she may have to reveal her identity later, if the case goes forward. That would allow defense attorneys to gather information necessary to prepare for trial. Torres also cited “substantial interest” from the public.
Combs remains in jail in New York awaiting criminal trial on federal sex trafficking charges. He also faces a wave of sexual assault lawsuits, many filed by the plaintiff's attorney, Tony Buzbee, a Texas attorney who says his firm represents more than 150 individuals, both men and women, who allege sexual abuse and exploitation by Combs.
The lawsuit alleges that many individuals were abused at parties in New York, California and Florida after receiving drugged drinks.
An amended lawsuit filed in federal court on Sunday alleges rap mogul Jay-Z raped a 13-year-old girl with Sean (Diddy) Combs at a party in 2000. Jay-Z denies the allegations.
Combs' lawyers have dismissed Buzbee's lawsuit as “shameless publicity stunts, designed to get payments from celebrities who fear that lies will be spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs .”
Jay-Z has said in a statement that Buzbee is trying to blackmail him to settle the Alabama woman's allegations.
Buzbee said in an email that his company does not comment on court decisions.
In her lawsuit, the woman who says she was raped at 13 identifies herself as Jane Doe. She said she was living in Rochester in 2000 when she made her way to New York City and befriended a limousine driver who took her to an after party at the MTV Music Awards, where she says Jay-Z and Combs eventually attacked her. .
Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, asked the judge to exclude the entertainer from the woman's lawsuit and asked to hear the case for the day after making his requests in writing on December 18. .
Citing an interview the plaintiff gave on NBC-TV, Spiro wrote that the broadcast showed “blatant inconsistencies and complete incompetence” in the plaintiff's story. He noted that the woman said she traveled five hours from Rochester to watch the music awards show on a Jumbotron outside the event, even though licenses and photos show the Jumbotron was not the present
Spiro also noted that the woman's father has said that he does not remember driving from Rochester to pick up his daughter in New York City, as she said.
The woman has admitted that there are inconsistencies in her story.
Torres wrote in her order Thursday that Spiro, who has been in the case for less than three weeks, has “filed a litany of letters and motions attempting to impeach the character of the plaintiff's attorney , many of which appear on the alleged 'crisis'. this case.”
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Addressing Jay-Z by his legal last name, the judge said: “Carter's lawyer's ceaseless filing of contentious motions containing inflammatory language and inappropriate ad hominem attacks is a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic that is unlikely to benefit his client. it does not stop the legal process simply because counsel requests it.”
A message was requested from Spiro to be left for him on Thursday.
Support is available to anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access emergency lines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Completing the Canadian Violence Association database. If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you, call 911.
