.jpg?itok=P87vlsSS "Pritam Singh’s verdict on Feb 17: What the trial covered and what’s at stake")
Lawyers for Combs said dismissal of the lawsuit without a settlement confirmed that other lawsuits he is facing are built on falsehoods.
“For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by an attorney more focused on media headlines than legal merit. Just like this claim, the others will fall apart because there is no truth to them,” they said in a statement, adding that Combs “has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor”.
A message was left seeking comment from Buzbee.
Buzbee’s firm, which has set up a 1-800 number for accusers, has filed a wave of lawsuits against the hip-hop mogul. Buzbee’s lawsuits allege that many of the people he represents were abused at parties in New York, California and Florida where individuals were given drinks that were laced with drugs.
Statements from both rappers derisively referred to Buzbee and his firm as the “1-800-lawyer”. Jay-Z accused him of “hiding behind Jane Doe” for financial gain.
“When they quickly realise that the money grab is going fail, they get to walk away with no repercussions,” he wrote. “The system has failed.”
Jay-Z and Combs are part of a generation of hip-hop titans who rose to prominence in the 2000s, emerging as wide-ranging entrepreneurs and two of the world’s wealthiest rappers.
The artists have collaborated over the years, with Jay-Z being featured on Combs’ debut album, No Way Out, and Combs appearing on Jay-Z’s sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.
Diddy launched his Bad Boy Records around the same time Jay-Z launched his Roc-A-Fella record label. The pair has been frequently photographed together at events.
Jay-Z has won 25 Grammys while Diddy has collected three trophies. Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company served as co-executive producer of the recent Super Bowl halftime show.
