Jay-Z drops motion against alleged victim’s lawyer Tony Buzbee, seeks dismissal of amended complaint that linked him to Diddy

Withdrawing his motion for sanctions and intensifying his efforts to have a lawsuit connecting him to a sexual assault case involving Sean "Diddy" Combs dismissed, Jay-Z has taken a new legal step in his ongoing battle with lawyer Tony Buzbee.

Alex Spiro, the rapper's lawyer, publicly retracted a prior request for penalties against Buzbee in a filing on February 4. Initially, the motion accused the attorney of unethical behavior, including filing the case without first consulting the alleged victim. His legal team reinforced its efforts to have the lawsuit dismissed notwithstanding this withdrawal, claiming that the accusations against him are legally unfounded.

In a letter to Judge Analisa Torres, Spiro stated that Buzbee had approved to the withdrawal. The letter read,

"We write on behalf of Defendant Shawn Carter to respectfully request that Mr. Carter’s Motion for Sanctions pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 be withdrawn at this time, without prejudice."

Jay-Z's lawyers contend that Buzbee's handling of the matter shows a lack of due diligence even though the rapper is no longer seeking sanctions. They contend that Buzbee compromised the integrity of the legal system by filing the complaint hastily without thoroughly investigating the accuser's allegations.

Spiro has reaffirmed that the lawsuit should be rejected on legal grounds and withdrawn the request for penalties. The Victims of Gender Motivated Violence Protection Act (GMVPA) is specifically cited in Jay-Z's defense, which contends that the law is inapplicable because the claimed attack took place in September 2000, three months prior to the statute's enactment.

In the filing, it was stated,

"Plaintiff’s sole claim—a violation of the GMVPA—fails as a matter of law because the alleged assault purportedly occurred in September 2000, three months before the statute was enacted."

Additionally, the rapper's lawyers contend that retrospectively enforcing the legislation would be against the Due Process and Ex Post Facto Clauses of the Constitution, which forbid prosecution under laws that were not in effect at the time of the accused offense.

Spiro said,

"Nothing in its text or legislative history reflects any intent at all to extend the statute’s reach to conduct predating its enactment, let alone an unequivocal requirement, which is an essential predicate for overcoming the strong presumption against retroactivity."

He concluded that the case must be dismissed with prejudice to prevent future legal action on identical issues.

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Jay-Z's Public Appearance Amid Legal Drama

Jay-Z has maintained his public profile in spite of the continuing litigation. On February 2, he went to the 2025 Grammy Awards, where his wife, Beyoncé, took home several honors, including the coveted Album of the Year title. Additionally, he is anticipated to attend the Super Bowl LVIX on February 9, where the halftime show will feature Kendrick Lamar, whose concert is being produced by Jay-Z's Roc Nation.

Although Jay-Z has publicly distanced himself from Combs, his continued appearances contrast with the intensifying legal battles surrounding him.

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Buzbee's ethics under fire as Jay-Z challenges lawsuit in high-stakes legal battle

In addition to requesting that the lawsuit be dismissed, Jay-Z's legal team has criticized Buzbee's actions in managing the matter and questioning his credibility. They cast considerable doubt on Buzebee's reliability by claiming that the company never met with the purported victim before bringing the complaint, which raises ethical concerns.

Spiro’s latest filing underscores that Buzbee’s failure to meet with his client before filing the lawsuit constitutes a serious ethical violation, according to a TMZ report. The lawsuit states:

"Initially, he deflected, saying Plaintiff’s 'case was referred to firm by another, who vetted it prior to sending it' to him, and that his firm would 'continue to vet her claims and collect corroborating data.'"

However, Buzbee has denied these accusations, asserting that the case was thoroughly reviewed before being filed. He told TMZ that he personally conducted an in-person interview with the woman and that her statements were corroborated by four other attorneys. He stated:

"Anyone who says otherwise has an agenda."

According to the rapper's attorneys, the accuser's account contains contradictions as a result of Buzbee's flawed handling of the case. They cite an interview with NBC News in which the plaintiff admitted to errors in her account of the alleged assault, asserting that this should have prompted Buzbee to conduct a more thorough investigation before filing the lawsuit.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing multiple legal issues, including this case. He is charged with different crimes of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. A conviction could result in a life sentence, and his criminal trial is scheduled to start in May.

In October 2023, Combs and Jay-Z were the targets of the initial lawsuit. Although Combs was specifically named, the company first mentioned two unnamed collaborators, 'Celebrity A' and 'Celebrity B'. Only on December 8, did Bubzee name Jay-Z as 'Celebrity A,' escalating the legal dispute between the two parties.

The rapper has tried to reveal the plaintiff's identity and denied any role in the alleged attack, claiming that anonymity hinders his ability to defend himself.