Seven new sexual assault lawsuits against Sean “Diddy” Combs were filed Monday (October 14th) in Manhattan federal court, the first in a wave of dozens of civil cases expected to be filed in the coming weeks.
The cases — each filed by an anonymous plaintiff Jane Doe or John Doe — were all filed by a Los Angeles attorney Andrew Van Arsdale and Texas attorney Tony Buzzbeewho earlier this month said he represents at least 120 such alleged victims.
“While his fortune kept him above the consequences for years, Combs now faces the formidable power of the American justice system and ultimately a jury of his peers who will be called upon to punish him for his deplorable conduct,” the lawyers wrote in matching language. to every complaint.
Five of the cases on Monday were filed by men and two by women. In one, a woman claims Combs lured her into a bathroom at a 1995 promotional event for a Notorious BIG music video and then violently raped her. “You better not tell anyone about this or you'll disappear,” he allegedly told her after the attack.
Another case was filed by a man who says he was sexually assaulted by Combs in 1998 when he was 16 and attending one of the rapper's famous “white parties” in the Hamptons. The man claims Combs forced him to remove his pants and demanded to be allowed to “inspect” his genitals.
“Combs abruptly left John Doe's genitals and told him his people would be in touch,” the lawyers write in that lawsuit. “Combs went on with his party as if nothing had happened, but for John Doe, everything had changed.”
Combs' representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, was once one of the most powerful men in the music industry. But last month, he was indicted by federal prosecutors on charges of sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson and bribery. If convicted of all charges, he could face up to life in prison.
In their indictment, prosecutors allege that Combs ran an extensive criminal enterprise aimed at satisfying his need for “sexual gratification.” The charges described “horrendous phenomena” in which Combs and others allegedly drugged victims and then forced them to have sex with male sex workers, as well as alleged acts of violence and intimidation to keep the victims silent.
The trial is currently set for May 5.
In addition to the criminal cases, Combs has also faced a number of civil lawsuits over the past year, including at least 12 filed before Monday's new lawsuits.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/diddy-new-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-accused-assaulting-minor/