Source: ANGELA WEISS/Getty
Music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, one of several alleged victims who have accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault and other abuse, has dropped several high-profile defendants from a lawsuit he filed against the Bad Boy mogul in February . .
According Hip Hop DX, the list of defendants in Jones' lawsuit originally included Universal Music Group and its chairman Sir Lucian Grainge, who the lawsuit alleges “aided and abetted” Diddy in his alleged sexual abuse. But those names have been dropped from the filing, and the claims against them and against Motown Recordings have been dismissed with prejudice, meaning claims against them can't be refiled.
Jones' legal representation was fairly vague about why Grange and the two music labels dropped the suit, though the now-former defendants had all filed motions to dismiss their cases.
“All claims against Grainge, Motown and UMG Recordings (the “UMG Defendants”) in [second amended complaint] lack any legal basis,” the filing said. “Each claim is based on the untenable theory of strict liability that when one enters into a commercial contract, the payor under that contract becomes liable for anything the payee does with the payment.” Apparently, Jones' lawyers finally agreed.
From Hip Hop DX:
Lil Rod's attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, said in an affidavit filed in court: “Based on my review of all the documents submitted in support of both motions to dismiss, which addressed the issues I had, I have concluded that no there is a legal basis for the claims and allegations made against the UMG Defendants.”
He added: “I have therefore decided that the correct course of action is to immediately withdraw all claims and all allegations.”
It's worth noting that UMG has also asked to be removed from a lawsuit filed by another Diddy accuser identified as Jane Doe, and that filing also appears to be the main argument that the company isn't responsible for anything Diddy did. if he made it.
“The allegations in the complaint, if true, are certainly troubling,” the filing said. “Plaintiff does not plead vicarious liability for assault or battery (nor could she).
“The claimant's NIED [negligent infliction of emotional distress] The claim also fails because she has failed to allege that UMGR owes her any duty and nowhere in Plaintiff's Complaint does she allege that UMGR's conduct was extreme and outrageous as required by legal sufficiency,” he continued.
As long as Didi was trying to play it cool onlinethere's no hiding the fact that he's drowning in scandal, legal woes and professional uncertainty, and one can imagine that there will be more people around him who will either need to jump ship or sink with him.
