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Sean “Diddy” Combs has scored a minor legal victory amidst the mounting legal battles he’s facing. On Monday, March 31, a federal judge in New York officially dismissed one of the sexual assault lawsuits against him — and the reason came down to a technical, yet critical, legal detail: the accuser did not identify herself.
The woman, listed only as “Jane Doe,” filed the lawsuit in October 2024, accusing Combs of raping her at a party in 1995. But according to court documents obtained by People, Judge Lewis J. Liman gave her a clear deadline — by March 20, she needed to file the lawsuit using her real name to continue the legal process. She failed to do that, and didn’t request extra time either.
As a result, the judge dismissed the case, stating plainly:
“The plaintiff has not filed a complaint in her own name, nor has she sought an extension of time to do so. Accordingly, the case is dismissed.”
Combs’ legal team swiftly responded, applauding the court’s decision and accusing the plaintiff’s legal representatives of chasing headlines over justice. They called out Tony Buzbee, the Houston-based attorney representing the accuser, saying he and others have “weaponized anonymity” and used the lawsuits more for media spectacle than actual legal pursuit.
They added, somewhat boldly:
“The other claims, like the one dismissed today, also will not hold up in a court of law.”
Interestingly, this isn’t the first case filed by Buzbee’s office to be tossed out — this marks the second. Diddy’s legal team seemed confident, hinting more dismissals could follow.
Still, this is just one battle in a broader war. Diddy is still facing multiple lawsuits and serious federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. He was arrested in September 2024, has pleaded not guilty, and is expected to go on trial this May.
So while this dismissal is a momentary breather for Combs, the legal storm surrounding him is far from over.