Sean “Diddy” Combs is still navigating a maze of legal battles, and one case in particular refuses to fade quietly. Sara Rivers, a former member of Da Band, accused the music mogul of sexual harassment and assault during the early 2000s reality show Making the Band. Her lawsuit, though, was thrown out in August after a federal judge ruled the claims came too late to move forward.
The court’s decision leaned heavily on the statute of limitations, stressing that legal deadlines exist to keep trials fair when evidence fades, witnesses disappear, and memories lose clarity. The judge also dismissed Rivers’s argument that fear of retaliation explained her delay in filing, noting that generalized claims of emotional distress are not enough to pause the clock on statutory deadlines.
But Rivers isn’t walking away. She has filed notice that she will take her case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, a move that could breathe new life into her claims if the panel sides with her arguments.
Meanwhile, Diddy’s legal troubles extend far beyond this civil dispute. In July, a jury convicted him on two counts tied to transporting individuals for prostitution, charges that together could carry up to 20 years behind bars. He was acquitted on the most severe allegations, including racketeering and sex trafficking. Sentencing is set for October 3, a date that looms large for the Bad Boy Entertainment founder.
Diddy’s legal team has already moved to challenge the convictions, arguing that prosecutors twisted the definition of prostitution beyond the scope of the Mann Act’s original language from 1910. They contend the verdict is fundamentally flawed and are pushing for dismissal or a retrial.
With Rivers pressing her appeal and criminal sentencing ahead, the courtroom spotlight on Diddy shows no sign of dimming.