Jay-Z has filed a new motion seeking dismissal of a lawsuit in which a woman alleges that he and Sean “Diddy” Combs sexually assaulted her in 2000 when she was 13 years old.
The filing, submitted Wednesday, highlights what Jay-Z’s legal team describes as inconsistencies in the plaintiff’s account and calls for sanctions against her lawyer, Anthony Buzbee, for allegedly failing to properly investigate the claims before filing the suit.
The woman alleges that the incident occurred at an afterparty hosted by Combs following the MTV Music Awards in New York. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has consistently denied the accusations, labeling the lawsuit a “blackmail attempt.” Combs, who is also named in the suit, denies the allegations.
In their motion, Carter’s lawyers pointed to discrepancies in the plaintiff’s narrative, citing a December interview with NBC News where she admitted to “mistakes” in identifying some individuals and corroborating witnesses. The filing also raises questions about the timeline and locations described in her story, asserting that critical elements lack plausibility or factual support.
Carter’s legal team further criticized Buzbee for not conducting sufficient due diligence before filing the lawsuit, calling for financial penalties to deter such actions in the future. “To accuse someone of a horrific crime without adequately vetting the allegation is deeply wrong and unethical,” Carter’s attorney stated.
Buzbee, however, dismissed the claims in a statement, accusing Carter’s team of filing frivolous motions and attempting to intimidate him. He maintained that his client stands by her allegations and has offered to take a polygraph test to prove her credibility.
The motion follows a previous denial by the court to fast-track dismissal of the case. Judge Analisa Torres admonished Carter’s legal team for its aggressive filings, calling them “inflammatory” and wasteful of judicial resources.
