Sean “Diddy” Combs is seeking to have a $100 million default judgment overturned in a lawsuit brought by Michigan inmate Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who alleges he was sexually assaulted by Combs in 1997. Combs failed to respond to Cardello-Smith’s lawsuit, leading to the default judgment. However, Combs claims he was never served with the lawsuit and only learned of it after the judgment was reported in the media. His attorneys argue that the statute of limitations ended in 2007, so the lawsuit should be dismissed. They also filed a motion to dissolve a temporary restraining order Cardello-Smith obtained against Combs.
Cardello-Smith, who is representing himself, alleges that in 1997, he was assaulted by Combs at a hotel party where Combs groped him while he was engaged in a sexual act with a woman. Cardello-Smith also claims he was drugged by Combs and later saw him having sex with a woman. Combs’ attorneys have called the allegations “objectively unbelievable” and pointed out Cardello-Smith’s criminal history, which includes convictions for criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping. Combs, through his attorney, denies any wrongdoing and looks forward to having the judgment dismissed swiftly.
In addition to Cardello-Smith’s lawsuit, Combs has faced other sexual misconduct allegations, including a recent lawsuit filed by Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane. Richard alleges that Combs groped and threatened her while she was employed by him and witnessed him physically abuse his former girlfriend, Cassie. Cassie also filed a lawsuit last year against Combs, claiming he had physically abused her and raped her after she tried to leave him. The two settled the lawsuit without disclosing the terms of the agreement, with Combs’ attorney emphasizing that the settlement was not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
In response to the allegations brought forth by Richard, Combs’ attorney stated that she had “manufactured false claims” in an attempt to obtain a financial settlement. Combs, who is currently under federal investigation, admitted to physically abusing Cassie in a hotel hallway in 2016, after surveillance footage of the attack was released by CNN. However, he has denied the other allegations against him in various lawsuits. Combs continues to maintain his innocence and looks to have the recent default judgment in Cardello-Smith’s lawsuit overturned due to lack of proper service and statute of limitations.
