An Alabama woman who alleges she was raped by Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs at age 13 can proceed anonymously in her lawsuit against the music moguls—for now, a Manhattan judge ruled Thursday.
In her written order, Judge Analisa Torres allowed the plaintiff, identified as “Jane Doe,” to remain anonymous during the early stages of the litigation. However, she indicated the woman might need to reveal her identity later if the case moves forward, enabling defense attorneys to gather evidence for trial. The judge also acknowledged the case’s “substantial public interest.”
Judge Torres criticized Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, for submitting “combative motions” and using “inflammatory language” against the plaintiff’s attorney, Tony Buzbee. She described Spiro’s tactics as inappropriate and a drain on judicial resources, stating they would not expedite the legal process.
Combs remains in federal custody in New York, awaiting a criminal trial on sex trafficking charges. He also faces a surge of sexual assault lawsuits, many filed by Buzbee, a Texas attorney who represents more than 150 individuals—men and women—alleging sexual abuse and exploitation by Combs.
The lawsuits accuse Combs of hosting parties in New York, California, and Florida where attendees were reportedly drugged and assaulted.
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Combs’ legal team has dismissed the claims as “shameless publicity stunts,” while Jay-Z has accused Buzbee of attempting to blackmail him into settling the Alabama woman’s allegations.
The lawsuit alleges that in 2000, the then-13-year-old woman traveled from Rochester to New York City, where she attended an MTV Music Awards after-party. She claims she was assaulted by Jay-Z and Combs at the event after meeting a limousine driver who took her there.
Spiro, who has represented Jay-Z for less than three weeks, filed a motion to dismiss his client from the case. He also requested a hearing shortly after his filing on December 18, citing inconsistencies in the plaintiff’s account, including details revealed during an NBC interview.
Among the discrepancies Spiro highlighted were claims that the woman watched the awards show on a jumbotron outside the venue—despite evidence that no jumbotron was present—and her father’s denial of traveling to New York City to retrieve her as she alleged.
Judge Torres admonished Spiro for his aggressive filings, writing: “Counsel’s relentless submission of combative motions containing inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks is inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client. The Court will not fast-track the judicial process merely because counsel demands it.”
Buzbee declined to comment on the ruling, citing firm policy, according to a report by AP.
