Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team is aggressively responding to the civil suits filed against him while a federal sex-trafficking investigation continues. Combs’ lawyers have filed a motion in a New York court seeking the dismissal of certain claims made by Joi Dickerson-Neal, who accuses the rapper of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1991 when she was 19 years old. The lawsuit alleges that the assault was recorded and the video footage was shared with Combs’ acquaintances.
The defense team aims to undermine the entire basis of the lawsuit and has requested the dismissal with prejudice of specific claims, including allegations of revenge porn and human trafficking. They argue that Combs cannot be sued in this instance because the relevant New York laws pertaining to revenge porn and human trafficking were enacted long after the alleged incident took place. The revenge porn law was established in 2019, while the trafficking law came into effect in 2007.
This legal development follows the recent search warrants executed by heavily armed Department of Homeland Security agents at Combs’ Holmby Hills and Miami residences on March 25. The agents seized paperwork and electronics as part of a sex trafficking investigation led by prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York.
In their motion to dismiss portions of the Dickerson-Neal lawsuit, Combs’ attorneys have vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as false, offensive, and salacious. They have also sought to strike parts of the lawsuit targeting Combs’ corporations, arguing that these entities did not exist at the time of the alleged misconduct.
According to the lawsuit, Dickerson-Neal, a student at Syracuse University at the time, met Combs during a break and reluctantly agreed to have dinner with him at a Harlem restaurant. The suit claims that Combs coerced her to accompany him after the meal. Allegedly, Combs provided her with drugs that rendered her physically incapacitated. When they arrived at a music studio, Dickerson-Neal was unable to exit the vehicle, and Combs proceeded to sexually assault her, as stated in the filing.
Dickerson-Neal is one of several women, including Combs’ former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who have filed lawsuits accusing the artist of sexual and physical abuse. Combs has since settled the Ventura suit. All these lawsuits were filed under the Adult Survivors Act, a law enacted in November 2022 in New York that allows individuals who believe they were sexually assaulted a one-year window to sue their abusers, even if the statute of limitations for prosecuting the alleged crimes had expired.
In February, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones also filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs sexually assaulted and harassed him, implicating several individuals in Combs’ circle in illicit behavior.
Combs took to Instagram to express his frustration, stating, “Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy.” He vehemently denied the allegations and vowed to fight for his name, family, and the truth.
Lead attorney Aaron Dyer emphasized that the federal raids on Combs’ properties were an unprecedented ambush and clarified that no criminal or civil liability has been established regarding the allegations. Dyer reiterated Combs’ innocence and his commitment to clearing his name.
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There are no errors or inaccuracies in the post. However, since the post does not provide specific details about the civil suits or the federal sex-trafficking investigation, it is difficult to provide credible sources to support or refute the claims made. It is advisable to wait for more information or news updates to have a better understanding of the situation.