A New York State judge has dismissed a sexual battery lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, saying the case was filed after the statute of limitations had expired, per vibe.com. The plaintiff, identified as John Doe, accused the mogul of drugging and assaulting him in Los Angeles in 2015.
The court ruled that New York’s 20-year statute of limitations for such claims does not apply retroactively to events that took place before its 2019 enactment. The judge also found the lawsuit, filed in 2025, to be untimely under California law, which has a 10-year statute of limitations for sexual assault.
Combs’ attorney, Erica Wolff, stated, “From the outset, we have said these claims were meritless, time-barred and legally deficient. The Court agreed.”
Despite the dismissal, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, called the ruling a “technicality” and vowed to refile the lawsuit in California, where the alleged assault occurred, to seek a trial “on the merits.”
This legal development follows a separate case where a judge recently dismissed most counts in a lawsuit filed by Sara Rivers, a former contestant on “Making the Band 2.”
In July, Combs was found guilty on two federal counts of transporting women across state lines for the purpose of prostitution, though he was acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges. He faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing in October.
