This week, a California judge dismissed a sexual assault civil lawsuit filed anonymously by John Doe against the embattled hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. Doe alleged that he was drugged and assaulted at an after-party-turned-orgy. The dismissal stemmed from the expiration of the statute of limitations period. Despite being acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges in his high-profile trial this summer, Combs still grapples with multiple civil lawsuits stemming from various alleged sexual assaults and other crimes. These suits flooded in from alleged victims after his federal indictment became public in September 2024. Presently, Combs awaits sentencing in a Brooklyn federal detention facility, having been convicted in July of violating the Mann Act—which prohibits transporting individuals across state or national borders for prostitution—during his lengthy criminal trial this summer. Several civil cases against him have been dismissed since his trial ended in a mixed verdict. Meanwhile, Combs' legal team is concurrently fighting to have his charges dismissed and reportedly seeking a pardon from President Trump. However, their efforts to secure his release ahead of his October 3 court date have proven unsuccessful thus far.
New York Judge Leslie Stroth ruled that the case, filed in February by John Doe against the rap mogul, his company Combs Global, and his label Bad Boy Records, fell well beyond the statute of limitations in both coastal states where it could potentially apply. It also fell short of meeting the threshold of New York's recent 20-year statute of limitations, as the new law does not apply retroactively to previous cases. "Since the action is untimely under both New York and California law, it must be dismissed against all defendants," Judge Stroth decreed.
The case revolved around an aspiring pop singer who, at 23 years old in 2015, secured a gig at an L.A. club attended by Combs, who expressed interest in him, according to Doe's suit. At the gig's afterparty, Combs handed Doe a drink, and soon after, Doe began to feel dizzy—a recurring theme in the legal claims and civil cases facing Combs. Doe awoke later to find Combs and others engaged in sexual activity. Doe alleged that Combs forced unwanted sexual activity upon him and threatened to derail his career if he resisted.
Doe's case was brought by Tony Buzbee, the Texas attorney who has taken on several civil cases against Combs after establishing a legal complaint hotline for alleged victims following Combs' federal indictment. Following the dismissal, Buzbee insisted that the case was far from concluded. "I wouldn't consider this a victory for Mr. Combs by any stretch," Buzbee told Billboard on Wednesday. "We won't allow Mr. Combs to evade a trial on its merits due to a mere technicality." This dismissal marks the second legal victory for Combs following his federal trial, which spared him a potential life sentence. Earlier in August, a federal judge dismissed a $60 million lawsuit filed by Making the Band 2 contestant Sara Rivers, who alleged abuse at the hands of Combs on the TV series. Similarly, that case's dismissal was tied to its untimely filing.
