A federal judge delivered a significant setback to Jay-Z’s legal team Thursday, denying their motion to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit while criticizing their aggressive legal tactics in the high-profile case.
U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled that the “Jane Doe” accuser can proceed anonymously with her lawsuit against the rap mogul, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, despite his attorneys’ attempts to compel her public identification.
The lawsuit, initially filed in October, alleges that Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs sexually assaulted the plaintiff in 2000 when she was 13 years old at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty. Carter has vigorously denied the accusations.
In her order, Judge Torres specifically rebuked Carter’s attorney Alex Spiro for filing “combative motions containing inflammatory language,” calling the tactics “inappropriate” and “a waste of judicial resources.” The judge emphasized she would not expedite proceedings “merely because counsel demands it.”
The ruling comes after Carter’s legal team sought an expedited dismissal following the accuser’s recent NBC News interview, where she acknowledged some inconsistencies in her account while maintaining the core allegations. Spiro had argued these “stunning revelations” undermined the complaint’s factual basis.
The case has sparked a broader legal battle, with Carter suing the plaintiff’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, for extortion and defamation in California. Buzbee, who claims to represent over 120 accusers against Combs, has countered with his own lawsuit against Carter’s Roc Nation, alleging the use of “shadowy operatives” to undermine his clients.
Judge Torres cited several factors in allowing the anonymous proceeding, including the “highly sensitive” nature of sexual assault allegations and claims of alleged threats against other Combs accusers. However, she noted this decision could be revisited as the case progresses.
Representatives for Combs, who faces separate federal charges and awaits criminal trial, declined to comment on the ruling but previously dismissed the allegations as “shameless publicity stunts.” His legal team maintains he has never sexually assaulted anyone.
The decision represents a crucial early victory for the plaintiff’s legal team, with Buzbee stating that “coordinated and desperate efforts to attack me as counsel for alleged victims are falling flat.” Carter’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment on the ruling.
The case continues to highlight broader issues of power, accountability, and victim protection in high-profile sexual assault allegations, particularly those involving multiple prominent defendants.
