A federal judge ruled Thursday (Feb. 29) that an unnamed woman who sued Sean “Diddy” Combs for allegedly “sex-trafficking” and “gang-raping” her must reveal her identity as the case moves forward.
The judge acknowledged that revealing the accuser's identity “could have a significant impact on her” because of the “graphic and disturbing allegations in this case”, but said the woman had failed to prove she could proceed anonymously.
“While the court does not take the plaintiff's concerns lightly, the Court cannot rely on blanket, unsubstantiated allegations that disclosure would harm the plaintiff to justify her anonymity.” Jessica GL Clarke He wrote.
The judge cited previous lawsuits against Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein in which the accusers of John Doe and Jane Doe, respectively, were denied anonymity, and said that allowing cases to proceed under pseudonyms in the US court system was “the exception and not the rule. “
The decision will not take effect immediately. Instead, the accuser won't be revealed until after the judge rules on Deedy's pending motion to dismiss the lawsuit. It is unclear when that decision might come. If the case survives, Jane Doe will be forced to reveal her name.
Thursday's ruling came in one of several abuse cases filed against the hip-hop mogul late last year. In the present case, the unnamed Jane Doe accuser alleges that Combs and the former president of Bad Boy Records Harvey Pierre He “loaded” her with drugs and alcohol before raping her in a Manhattan recording studio when she was in high school.
Combs vehemently denied the allegations, saying, “I didn't do any of the awful things they're alleging. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.” Last week, he formally responded to the lawsuit, arguing that the allegations are “fictitious” and violate his constitutional right to due process.
For months, the two sides argued over whether Jane Doe's accuser could proceed anonymously. She argued that the media attention she would face would lead to further trauma, adding to what she was already allegedly suffering. Didi's lawyers strongly argued otherwise, saying it would be unfair to let his accuser proceed under a pseudonym while his name was dragged through the mud.
On Thursday, the judge clearly sided with Didi's argument, ruling that she had not shown the kind of “particular harm or vulnerabilities” that would require such special status.
“Although this case involves highly sensitive allegations and Doe has not publicly disclosed her identity, all other factors weigh against Plaintiff's motion if this case survives Defendants' motions to dismiss,” the judge wrote.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/sean-diddy-combs-rape-accuser-stay-anonymous-judge-1235619296/