A judge ruled on December 26 that a woman, who filed a lawsuit alleging sexual assault by Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs when she was 13, does not have to disclose her identity. The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, claims she was raped following an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty 24 years ago. She initially sued Combs in October and later added Jay-Z to her complaint.
In response to the lawsuit, Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, submitted a motion to have the complaint dismissed unless the woman revealed her identity. However, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres denied this motion. In her ruling, Judge Torres criticized Spiro’s approach, describing it as confrontational and a misuse of court resources. She also emphasized that the legal process would not be expedited simply because it was requested by the defense.
Judge Torres pointed out that Spiro had failed to give the plaintiff the necessary five-day notice to respond to the motion, labeling this oversight as “unacceptable.”
The attorney for the woman, Tony Buzbee, commented that the attempts to undermine him as a representative for victims are ineffective. Previously, Spiro argued that Jay-Z deserves to know who is accusing him of serious misconduct, highlighting the potential damage to his reputation and the financial demands being made.
In a recent interview, the woman acknowledged some inconsistencies in her memory of the events but maintained her allegations against Combs and Jay-Z. Now 38, she expressed the importance of advocating for oneself and hopes to inspire others to come forward with their stories.
Efforts to reach a representative for Combs for a comment were ongoing.
