By Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been slapped with a $100 million default judgment in a sexual assault lawsuit filed by a Michigan inmate, escalating legal troubles for the music industry titan.
Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, 51, was granted the multi-million dollar judgment by default in Lenawee County Circuit Court during a virtual hearing on Monday. The ruling came after Combs, 54, failed to appear for the proceedings.
Cardello-Smith, currently serving up to 75 years in prison on first-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping charges, filed the complaint against Combs in June. Court records show that in August, Cardello-Smith was granted a temporary restraining order against the embattled star.
Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ attorney, forcefully rejected the allegations in a statement to The Associated Press. “This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years,” Agnifilo said. “His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit. Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed.”
The lawsuit stems from an alleged incident at a Detroit Holiday Inn in 1997. According to the complaint, Cardello-Smith claims he met Combs at an afterparty and went to a private hotel room with him and two women. The filing alleges that Combs touched Cardello-Smith inappropriately and offered him a drink, after which Cardello-Smith reportedly became drowsy and passed out. He claims he later awoke in pain and bleeding.
The Detroit Metro Times reported that the restraining order was filed to prevent Combs from selling assets that could potentially be used to compensate Cardello-Smith for possible damages. The outlet also noted Cardello-Smith’s history of challenging the judicial system with lawsuits, having taught himself criminal and civil law while incarcerated.
In a surprising twist, Cardello-Smith alleged during an August court hearing that Diddy visited him in prison and offered $2.3 million to dismiss the lawsuit, according to The Guardian. However, this claim has not been independently verified.
This case adds to a growing list of legal challenges for Combs. He is currently facing several other sexual assault lawsuits, through which he has consistently maintained his innocence. In March 2024, Combs’ properties were raided by federal agents as part of an ongoing investigation, according to a Homeland Security Investigations representative.
Jonathan Davis, another attorney representing Combs, emphasized the hip-hop mogul’s stance on the mounting allegations. “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone,” Davis stated. “We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court.”
As the legal drama unfolds, Combs listed one of his properties for sale on Sunday, though it’s unclear if this is related to his ongoing legal issues.
The case highlights the complexities of the legal system, particularly when involving high-profile figures and incarcerated plaintiffs. As the situation develops, it’s likely to draw continued attention from both the music industry and legal observers, potentially impacting Combs’ legacy and business empire.
