Jay-Z court case update: Judge allows rapper's request to file for dismissal of s*xual assault lawsuit

A federal judge has granted Jay-Z’s request to file a motion for the dismissal of a s*xual assault lawsuit brought against him and Sean "Diddy" Combs on January 2. The case, filed by an Alabama native identified as "Jane Doe," alleges the rappers assaulted her in September 2000, when she was 13 years old.

The legal decision marks a critical development in the ongoing lawsuit, which has garnered significant attention since its filing last month.

According to court documents obtained by E! News, the judge’s decision allows Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, to file his dismissal motion by February 6. Following this, Jane Doe will have until February 28 to respond, and the rapper will be permitted to issue a rebuttal, if necessary, by March 14.

Jay-Z’s legal team, led by Alex Spiro, previously filed a motion requesting the plaintiff’s identity be revealed. Spiro argued in a December 9 filing that the current anonymity of Jane Doe allows for baseless allegations to damage the rapper’s reputation unfairly.

However, a federal judge ruled on December 26 that Jane Doe could remain anonymous during the case's early stages, though this status could change if the litigation progresses further.

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Jay-Z denies allegations, calls for justice

Jay-Z has vehemently denied all accusations in the lawsuit. In a December 8 statement to NBC News, he challenged the nature of the allegations, urging Jane Doe to file a criminal complaint instead of a civil lawsuit.

"These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one," he stated. "Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case."

He also accused Jane Doe’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, of attempting to pressure him into a settlement before the lawsuit was refiled.

"What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle," Jay-Z said.

In response, Buzbee maintained that his client only sought a confidential mediation and never demanded financial compensation from Jay-Z, as per E! News. Buzbee’s office has not yet responded to recent requests for comment regarding the dismissal motion.

Sean "Diddy" Combs, also named in the lawsuit, is currently embroiled in multiple legal challenges. In October 2024, Combs was charged with federal s*x trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. His legal team has denied all allegations and expressed confidence in the judicial process.

"In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never se*ually assaulted anyone—adult or minor, man or woman," his lawyers stated to E! News in October.

Federal agents executed search warrants on Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami earlier this year, further amplifying the scrutiny surrounding him. Although Combs cooperated with authorities, the searches resulted in significant media attention, which his lawyer criticized as excessive and prejudicial.

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Jay-Z was most recently seen with wife Beyoncé, and their daughter Blue Ivy at the premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King in Los Angeles on December 9, as reported by People.

The legal timeline set by the judge ensures that the case will continue to unfold in the coming months. If Jane Doe’s opposition to the dismissal motion is filed, the court will then decide whether the case proceeds to trial or is dismissed. He has not commented further since his initial statements in December, leaving his legal team to handle the ongoing proceedings.