On March 24, court documents obtained by PEOPLE revealed that a New York judge has dismissed several claims lodged by music producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones against Sean "Diddy" Combs. Jones had filed a $30 million lawsuit for sexual assault and harassment against Combs in February 2024.
In his 73-page complaint, Jones alleged a harrowing tale of sexual harassment, drugging, and threats while working on Combs' "Love" album from September 2022 to November 2023. Furthermore, Jones claimed that Combs and his associates sexually assaulted him.
Jones' lawsuit also implicated other high-profile individuals, including Combs' adult son, Justin; his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram; Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge; and former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam.
Combs, through his attorney Erica Wolff, had filed a motion to dismiss Jones' lawsuit in August, branding it as "pure fiction." On Monday, Judge J. Paul Oetken partially granted and partially denied the motion.
Jones' RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) allegation was tossed out as the judge found no evidence linking Combs' enterprises to the alleged racketeering activities. Additionally, Jones' failure to receive payment for his work on the "Love" album did not establish a causal link, according to the judge. "The Court cannot identify any such causal link," wrote Judge Oetken, adding, "Defendants' alleged sex, drug, and gun trafficking activities...did not foreseeably or naturally preclude Defendants from honoring their recording contract with Jones."
Jones had also filed charges under the TVPA (Trafficking Victims Protection Act) against Combs, Khorram, and Combs Global, accusing them of using force, fraud, and coercion to induce him into commercial sex acts. While Jones' TVPA claims against Combs Global were dismissed, the judge allowed the allegations against Combs and Khorram to stand, citing specific incidents where Jones claimed Combs "recruited or enticed Jones to solicit and perform sex acts with commercial workers" and "transported Jones across state and international borders to do so."
Jones claimed he was drugged during these alleged encounters and often woke up in bed with sex workers. While living with Combs during the album's production, Jones alleged he was subjected to "constant unsolicited and unauthorized groping and touching" for "commercial" purposes. He further claimed that Combs made promises regarding Jones' career and finances to coerce him into accepting this unwanted conduct.
Jones specifically accused Combs of sexual assault, detailing "specific instances of unwanted sexual contact," including an incident where he alleged Combs drugged him and slept with him at Combs' Miami home in February 2023. Judge Oetken ruled that Jones' sexual assault claims were plausible and declined to dismiss them.
The judge also declined to dismiss Jones' premises liability claim, based on his allegations of multiple sexual assaults occurring on Combs' properties. Noting that "Combs had both possession and control of the premises," Judge Oetken allowed this claim to proceed.
However, Jones' claim of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Combs was dismissed due to his failure to "adequately plead" severe emotional distress.
Additionally, Jones' breach of contract claims, stemming from his allegations of unpaid work on the album, were dismissed due to New York's statute of frauds, which requires written contracts for obligations that cannot be performed within one year. Although the defendants' portion could not be completed within a year, Jones and Combs' team had an oral agreement.
The judge also issued a stern warning to Jones' lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, for his "unsettling" conduct, criticizing his filings for containing "inaccurate statements of law, conclusory accusations, and inappropriate ad hominem attacks on opposing counsel."
Despite the dismissals, Blackburn remained optimistic, telling PEOPLE, "A win is a win," and expressing his anticipation for the discovery phase.
Meanwhile, Combs is currently detained at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center on unrelated allegations. He was arrested in September 2024 and charged with transportation to engage in prostitution, racketeering, and sex trafficking. His trial is set to commence on May 5.
