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Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs have officially requested a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the hip-hop mogul and others were involved in a 2003 sexual assault.
The lawsuit accuses Combs and two co-defendants of raping a 17-year-old girl in a New York recording studio, a claim which Combs has denounced as “false and hideous.” According to the legal filing, the accusation was made too late to meet legal deadlines.
The complaint was initiated in December and updated in March by the alleged victim, who now resides in Canada. She claims to have been incapacitated by drugs and alcohol provided at the studio, making her unable to consent. The defense argues that the plaintiff’s recollection of the event is questionable, noting she cannot pinpoint the exact date of the alleged incident yet recalls other specific details.
In their defense, Combs’ lawyers have requested the case be dismissed with prejudice to prevent further damage to their client’s reputation and to avoid wasting judicial resources. This move follows a series of lawsuits under the New York’s Adult Survivors Act, although this particular case falls under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which the defense argues is overridden by state law.
Michael J. Willemin, representing the victim, countered the dismissal request, criticizing it as an attempt by Combs to evade responsibility for the alleged assaults. Meanwhile, the judge has stipulated that the plaintiff must disclose her identity should the case advance beyond this legal challenge.