Diddy scored a partial legal victory today after a judge dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit filed by former music producer Rodney Jones, who accused him of sexual assault.
According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the judge threw out five of the nine claims Jones brought against Diddy, including allegations of racketeering (RICO), infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract. A claim under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act against Diddy’s company, Combs Global, was also dismissed.
Jones’ attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn, faced criticism from the judge, who called out the quality of his legal filings. The judge specifically noted that Blackburn’s filings appeared to misunderstand that Diddy remains presumed innocent in a separate grand jury indictment on criminal charges.
Despite the setback, the lawsuit is still moving forward, as the judge allowed the most serious sexual assault claims to stand. It remains to be seen whether the case will ultimately go to trial.
In response to the ruling, Jones’ attorney told TMZ, “Yeah, a win is a win. Playtime is over—we look forward to discovery. I hope the defendants are ready.”