Rivers v Combs dismissed

Photo Credit: Tingey Law

A judge has dismissed all 22 counts in the case of Sara Rivers vs. Sean Combs, 21 of which were dismissed with prejudice, preventing a refile.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is tackling the mass of civil suits filed against him in the last couple of years, and he’s off to a great start. In the case of Sara Rivers v. Sean Combs, Judge Rakoff has dismissed all 22 counts in the lawsuit. Of those, 21 counts were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled.

One remaining count was dismissed without a final determination of whether that dismissal will be with or without prejudice. That decision is pending a Second Circuit ruling on whether the claim is time-barred.

“From the outset, we have said these claims were meritless, time-barred, and legally deficient,” said Erica Wolff, counsel for Combs. “The Court agreed, finding no legal basis to allow them to proceed. We are pleased the Court carefully analyzed and swiftly dismissed these baseless claims.”

“We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason,” said Combs’ legal team when the lawsuit was filed. “This is yet another example of false claims being filed against Mr. Combs. […] No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor.”

Sara Rivers, also known as Sara Stokes on the reality series Making the Band, filed the $60 million lawsuit in February. The suit alleged sexual harassment, assault and battery, and an “inhumane” work environment during her time filming the show in 2002.

According to Rivers, Combs touched her inappropriately, made physical threats toward her and her bandmates, made fun of her appearance and struggles with an eating disorder, and forced her to work “grueling conditions” with minimal pay.

The complaint had named over two dozen defendants, including Universal Music, MTV, Bad Boy Records executives, and even Combs’ mother.