Universal Music Group is pushing back against its involvement in a high-profile lawsuit filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, arguing that it has been unfairly roped into a legal battle that has little to do with them.
Sara Rivers, a former member of the reality TV music group Making the Band, filed a sweeping lawsuit alleging abusive and hostile treatment at the hands of Diddy and others tied to his business empire. The legal action names over two dozen defendants, including UMG.
But the music conglomerate isn’t having it. In newly filed court documents, obtained by TMZ, Universal is asking the court to dismiss the claims against them entirely. Their legal team argues that Rivers’ accusations are legally flawed, claiming the federal claims are time-barred, preempted by New York state law, and that the filing as it pertains to them amounts to improper group pleading with no specific basis.
UMG further points out that of the over 1,000 paragraphs in Rivers’ sprawling lawsuit, only 10 even mention Universal—and none of those sections, they argue, substantiate any direct claims of wrongdoing.
Additionally, UMG asserts that the allegations made against them are not only irrelevant to the core case but are also legally insufficient to justify dragging them into what they view as a targeted case against Diddy.
The court has yet to issue a ruling on Universal’s request.