Sean "Diddy" Combs has requested a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him and two others of raping a 17-year-old girl in a New York recording studio in 2003. The lawsuit, filed anonymously by the accuser, has been described by Combs' legal team as a "false and hideous claim" that was filed too late under New York state law.
The filing, submitted on Friday, May 10, 2024, comes amidst Combs' ongoing legal battles related to various sexual misconduct allegations and a concurrent sex-trafficking investigation. His attorneys argue that the lawsuit, which alleges that the accuser was given drugs and alcohol before being raped by Combs, Harve Pierre, and another man, was not filed within the legal timeline mandated by New York state law.
Combs' legal team has also emphasized the "paper-thin" details of the accuser's account, highlighting the lack of concrete evidence supporting the allegations. They have pointed out that the accuser, who has thus far been referred to as "Jane Doe" in the case, claims she was flown out to visit Combs by the former president of his Bad Boy Entertainment record label, Harve Pierre, as an 11th-grade student in Detroit.
The accuser's lawsuit has been a part of a larger wave of legal actions against Combs, including allegations of sexual misconduct spanning decades. These allegations have come to light under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily suspended certain legal deadlines to allow sexual assault victims a last opportunity to sue over abuse that happened years or even decades ago.
However, Combs' legal team has countered that the lawsuit in question was filed too late, citing the New York state law that specifies the statute of limitations for such cases. They argue that the accuser's claim should have been made by August 2021 to be considered timely under the law.
This latest legal maneuver by Combs represents a significant pushback against a tide of accusations that have emerged in recent years. The case continues to draw attention as it unfolds, with observers and legal experts watching closely to see how the court will respond to Combs' motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
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