Jay-Z has filed a lawsuit against the Alabama woman who accused him of a sexual assault in 2000 involving Sean Combs, as well as her attorney Tony Buzbee. He claims that the false accusations and threats of extortion made by them resulted in a loss of $20 million for him.
According to legal documents obtained by Page Six, the artist behind Empire State Of Mind has accused the defendants, including attorney David Fortney, of various offenses such as malicious prosecution, abuse of process, civil conspiracy, and defamation.
In the legal complaint examined by the publication, the rapper known for hits like 99 Problems alleges that the defendants acted out of greed, showing complete disregard for the truth and basic principles of human decency.
Buzbee represented the woman (who identifies herself as Jane Doe in court documents) claiming the 24-time Grammy-winner, 55, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 55, sexually assaulted her when she was 13.
She claims the incident took place at an MTV Music Awards afterparty in September of 2000 – accusations which Jay-Z and Diddy have denied.
The case was dismissed last month, with the Hard Knock Life rapper saying at the time, ‘Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed. This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere.’
Jay-Z, 55, has sued the Alabama woman who accused him of a 2000 sexual assault with Sean Combs, and her attorney Tony Buzbee, saying the ‘lies’ and ‘extortionate threats’ made by them led him to a $20 million loss. Pictured in LA February 2
Buzbee represented the woman (who identifies herself as Jane Doe in court documents) claiming Jay-Z, 55, and Sean ‘ Diddy ‘ Combs, 55, sexually assaulted her when she was 13
Buzbee told Dailymail.com exclusively Monday, ‘This new case alleges the same claims as the other one they pieced together and filed in Los Angeles. Like the one in LA, this new case in Alabama also has no legal merit.
He continued: ‘Shawn Carter’s investigators have repeatedly harassed, threatened and harangued this poor woman for weeks trying to intimidate her and make her recant her story.
‘She hasn’t, and won’t. Instead she has stated repeatedly she stands by her claims. These same group of investigators have been caught on tape offering to pay people to sue me and my firm.’
Buzbee told Dailymail.com that he spoke ‘with Jane Doe today’ and ‘it appears that the quotes attributed to her in the lawsuit are completely made up, or they spoke to someone who isn’t Jane Doe.
The attorney added: ‘This is just another attempt to intimidate and bully this poor woman that we will deal with in due course.’
Buzbee wrapped up his statement to Dailymail.com, ‘We won’t be bullied or intimidated by frivolous cases.’
Dailymail.com has reached out to reps for Jay-Z for comment on the story.
In January, lawyers for Jay-Z asked the court to sanction sanction Buzbee, alleging he did not personally meet with the woman ahead of filing the legal complaint, TMZ reported in after reviewing legal docs in the case.
Jay-Z’s lawyers have cited a December television interview with NBC News in which his accuser acknowledged inconsistencies in her story as a reason to toss the case
Buzbee told Dailymail.com exclusively Monday, ‘Shawn Carter’s investigators have repeatedly harassed, threatened and harangued this poor woman for weeks trying to intimidate her and make her recant her story. Pictured in June of 2023
The legal team for the 24-time Grammy-winner, led by attorney Alex Spiro, said Buzbee admitted to not personally speaking with the woman ahead of filing the case, which is a major ethical lapse, TMZ reported.
Buzbee told Dailymail.com in response that ‘what Spiro has filed, like everything else he has filed thus far, is utterly frivolous and meritless.’
Buzbee previously told TMZ that ‘he did, in fact, personally interview the plaintiff, as did four other lawyers,’ the outlet reported, noting that he said that ‘anyone who says otherwise has their own agenda.’
Buzbee told Dailymail.com that ‘with every frantic filing the defense in this case grows more desperate.’
He added of his case against the rapper, whose name is Shawn Carter: ‘The rules apply equally to everyone, even those who wrongly think they are above the law. No one is above the law.’
Dailymail.com has reached out to Spiro and reps for Jay-Z for further comment on this story.
Lawyers for Jay-Z said that Buzbee – whose firm is in charge of more than 150 people suing Combs – didn’t properly vet the woman accusing Jay-Z ahead of a December interview she conducted with NBC News in which she acknowledged inconsistencies in her story.
Jane Doe said in her legal filing she was living in Rochester in 2000 when she made her way to New York City and befriended a limousine driver who drove her to the party in a trek that took about 20 minutes.
The legal team for Jay-Z, led by attorney Alex Spiro, said Buzbee admitted to not personally speaking with the woman ahead of filing the case, which is a major ethical lapse. Spiro pictured in July in Santa Fe, New Mexico
The alleged incident took place at an MTV VMAs afterparty in September of 2000, Jay-Z’s accuser said. The rapper pictured months earlier during a July 4 bash in the Hamptons
Jay-Z, pictured last month with wife Beyoncé, has denied all of the claims against him
Buzbee has said his firm is representing more than 150 people, both men and women, who allege sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of Combs.
Buzbee’s firm, which has set up a 1-800 number for accusers, has filed a wave of suits against Combs.
Buzbee’s lawsuits allege that many of the people he represents were abused at parties in New York, California and Florida where individuals were given drinks that were laced with drugs.
Combs’ lawyers have dismissed Buzbee’s lawsuits as ‘shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs.’
Combs remains jailed in New York awaiting a May criminal trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Jay-Z and Combs gained fame in the 2000s, emerging as wide-ranging entrepreneurs and two of the world’s wealthiest rappers.
Last year, Forbes estimated Jay-Z’s net worth to be $2.5 billion.
The artists have collaborated over the years, with Jay-Z featured on Combs’ debut album, No Way Out and Combs appearing on Jay-Z´s sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.
