Majority of Producer Rodney Jones’ Claims Against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed

A New York judge has dismissed many of producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones’ claims against Sean “Diddy” Combs, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE on Monday, March 24. Jones filed a $30 million sexual assault and sexual harassment lawsuit against Combs in February 2024.

In his 73-page filing, Jones alleged that Combs sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him when he worked on Combs’ Love album from September 2022 to November 2023. The music producer also alleged that Combs and others that Combs hired sexually assaulted him.

Combs’ adult son, Justin; his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram; Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge; and former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam are also named as defendants in Jones’ filing.

In August, Combs filed a motion to dismiss Jones’ lawsuit as Combs’ attorney Erica Wolff called it “pure fiction.”

Judge J. Paul Oetken granted the motion in part and denied it in part on Monday.

Jones’ RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) allegation was dismissed as the judge noted he failed to prove there was a connection between Combs and his enterprises’ alleged racketeering conduct, and Jones not receiving payment for his work on the Love album. “The Court cannot identify any such causal link,” Judge Oetken wrote, adding, “Defendants’ alleged sex, drug, and gun trafficking activities … did not forseeably or naturally preclude Defendants from honoring their recording contract with Jones.”

Jones also sued Combs, Combs’ chief of staff, Kristina Khorram and Combs Global over an alleged violation of the TVPA (Trafficking Victims Protection Act), which bans using threats of force, fraud, and coercion “to cause the person to engage in a commercial sex act.”

Jones’ TVPA claims against Combs Global were dismissed. However, Judge Oetken did not dismiss the allegations against Combs or Khorram, writing that Jones’ lawsuit includes several specific examples of incidents Combs allegedly “recruited or enticed Jones to solicit and perform sex acts with commercial workers” and allegedly “transported Jones across state and international borders to do so.”

Jones claimed he was drugged during the alleged instances, and often woke up in bed with sex workers. He alleged that when he lived with Combs while working on the album, he was subject to “constant unsolicited and unauthorized groping and touching … ” for “commercial” purposes. He alleged Combs made promises for Jones’ career and finances to get Jones to “accept this unwanted conduct.”

Jones specifically accused Combs of sexual assault, claiming he “touched and groped him,” providing “specific instances of unwanted sexual contact.” For example, he alleged Combs drugged and slept with him in Combs’ Miami home in February 2023. Judge Oetken ruled that Jones’ sexual assault claims were “sufficient to state a plausible claim,” and did not dismiss the allegation.

The judge also decided not to dismiss Jones’ premises liability claim, which was based Jones’ allegations that he was sexually assaulted multiple times on Combs’ properties. Judge Oetken noted, “Combs had both possession and control of the premises.”

However, because Jones did not “adequately plead” that he suffered severe emotional distress, his claim of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Combs was dismissed.

Lastly, Jones’ breach of contract claims, stemming from his allegations that he wasn’t paid for his work on the album, were dismissed. The judge pointed to New York’s statute of frauds that says a contract that can’t be performed within one year is unenforceable unless it is in writing. Although the defendants’ portion couldn’t be performed in a year, Jones and Combs’ team appeared to have an oral agreement.

Also in court documents, the judge issued a warning to Jones’ lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, due to his “unsettling” conduct, adding, “Blackburn’s filings are replete with inaccurate statements of law, conclusory accusations, and inappropriate ad hominem attacks on opposing counsel.”

“A win is a win,” Blackburn tells PEOPLE of the judge’s ruling, adding that he is “looking forward to discovery.”

Combs is currently being held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center on unrelated allegations. He was arrested in September 2024 and charged with transportation to engage in prostitution, racketeering and sex trafficking. His trial is scheduled to begin on May 5.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.