A federal judge in New York has dismissed nearly all claims in a $60 million lawsuit filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs by former Making the Band contestant Sara Rivers. In a ruling on Thursday, Judge Jed S. Rakoff threw out 21 of the 22 allegations Rivers brought earlier this year — including sexual assault, racketeering, forced labor, and false imprisonment — marking a significant legal win for the embattled music mogul.
The dismissal was issued with prejudice, meaning Rivers cannot refile those claims. Her remaining allegation, that Combs violated the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, is still pending while the court awaits a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals on whether that claim falls outside the statute of limitations.
Rivers, who appeared on the early 2000s reality series, accused Combs of inappropriate conduct during their time working together. The suit alleged that while she was walking down a hallway, Combs cornered her, touched her breasts without consent, and made suggestive remarks.
Additional claims included threats toward group members, including one in which Combs allegedly threatened “to eat the face” of an individual and “kill another.” Combs’ attorney, Erica Wolff, called the allegations “meritless, time-barred, and legally deficient,” and said the court’s decision confirmed there was “no legal basis” for them to proceed.
This civil ruling comes as Combs remains behind bars following his conviction last month on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act. While he was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges, he faces a potential 10-year prison sentence. His sentencing is set for October 3, and a judge has ordered that he remain in custody until that date. Meanwhile, the Bad Boy mogul continues to battle multiple other civil suits, ensuring his legal troubles are far from over.
Source: TMZ
