Judge dismisses Lil Rod's RICO claims against Sean "Diddy" Combs

A judge dismissed five charges against Sean "Diddy" Combs made by Combs' former producer Lil Rod, who accuses Combs of racketeering and sexual assault.

By Matt Schimkowitz  |  March 24, 2025 | 10:47pm
Photo by Scott Dudelson (Getty Images)
Music News Sean Combs
Judge dismisses Lil Rod's RICO claims against Sean

In a rare win for Sean “Diddy” Combs, a New York judge has dismissed five charges in a $30 million lawsuit filed by a former producer. Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who produced nine songs on Diddy’s 2023 album The Love Album: Off The Grid, sued Combs last February, accusing him of requiring him to procure drugs, solicit sex workers, and film Combs performing sex acts under threat of violence. He also accuses Combs of sexual harassment and assault, claiming Combs grabbed his genitals, forced him to work while Combs was naked, and served alcohol laced with ecstasy to women. Per Variety, Jones also named a “RICO enterprise” that includes Combs’ son, his chief of staff, Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge, former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam, and other record labels and unnamed participants.

In August last year, Combs filed to dismiss the case, and today, Judge J. Paul Oetken dismissed the RICO allegations, stating that “it should not be necessary to root around a 402-paragraph complaint to contrive novel arguments on Jones’s behalf.” He shut down several other claims, too, including negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act claims against Combs Global. However, the sexual assault and liability claims were not dismissed.

According to Variety, which obtained a copy of the brief, Judge Oetken admonished Blackburn for his filings, which the judge characterized as having “inaccurate statements of law, conclusory accusations, and inappropriate ad hominem attacks on opposing counsel” filled with “irrelevant insults, misstatements, and exaggerations.” Blackburn didn’t appear bothered by it. In a statement to Variety, he said, “A win is a win. Play time is over. Now, it is time for discovery.”

Combs currently faces more than 60 lawsuits for sexual assault, harassment, and sex trafficking.

 
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