Sean Combs won’t have to face most of a sexual assault lawsuit from Sara Rivers, who accused the music mogul of groping her when she was a contestant on Making the Band 2.
The complaint from Rivers was filed earlier this year, near the height of legal scrutiny around Combs. She claimed Combs cornered her at his recording studio in New York before proceeding to brush his left hand across her breast. The lawsuit, which also named Universal Music Group, Bad Boy Records and Paramount’s MTV, claimed assault and battery, sexual harassment and hostile work environment. Rivers sought at least $60 million.
In an order issued on Thursday, U.S. District Judge permanently dismissed all but one of the 22 claims, most of which advanced workplace-related allegations.
Combs’ defense in the lawsuit mostly revolved around arguments that Rivers brought the lawsuit too late. The alleged misconduct occurred more than 20 years ago, far past the one to ten year statute of limitations for most of the claims, the rap mogul’s lawyer said.
“From the outset, we have said these claims were meritless, time-barred, and legally deficient,” said Erica Wolff, a lawyer for Combs, in a statement. “The Court agreed, finding no legal basis to allow them to proceed.”
The sole remaining claim against Combs alleges a violation of the of New York’s gender-motivated violence protect act, which covers sex crimes, among other things. A decision on whether the claim will be allowed to proceed will be issued when a federal appeals court determines whether a recent amendment to the law allowing lawsuits to be filed for two years even if the window to sue had passed is preempted by another New York law that provided a similar mechanism for victims of sexual violence to pursue civil claims.
Rivers was represented by Ariel Mitchell, who Combs sued for defamation over comments she and her client, Courtney Burgess, made over his alleged involvement in sex parties with celebrities and minors. The rap mogul seeks at least $100 million.
The court said it will issue an opinion elaborating on the dismissal soon. Mitchell didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
In July, Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges but found guilty of prostitution-related offenses under the Mann Act, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years. He’ll be sentenced in October.
