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A Michigan inmate has been awarded $100 million in a default judgment against Sean “Diddy” Combs, after the music mogul failed to respond to a sexual assault lawsuit. The judgment was issued by Lenawee County Circuit Court Judge Anna Marie Anzalone on Monday, September 9.
The lawsuit, filed by Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, alleges that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a party in Detroit in 1997. Cardello-Smith, who met Diddy during the 1990s while working in Detroit’s restaurant and hospitality industry, has been serving a prison sentence for unrelated charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping, with a release date set no earlier than 2036.
According to court testimony, Cardello-Smith claimed that the 54-year-old rapper offered him $2.3 million to withdraw the lawsuit, a proposal he rejected. He also produced evidence, including a prison visitation log with Combs’s name, to support his claims.
Judge Anzalone’s ruling includes not only the substantial financial award but also a directive for Combs to pay $10 million each month starting October 1, for a period of 10 months. The decision was rendered after Combs failed to attend the court hearing, resulting in a default judgment.
In response, Diddy and his legal team have denied any knowledge of the lawsuit, asserting that they were not properly served notice. They have labeled the lawsuit as “fraud on the court” and vowed to contest the ruling vigorously.
The case adds to a series of legal battles facing the rapper. Since November, Diddy has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits, including claims from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and former producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who allege sexual assault and harassment. The Department of Homeland Security also raided properties associated with Combs earlier this year.
Adding to the scrutiny, a video surfaced in May showing an altercation involving Cassie in 2016, which led Diddy to issue a public apology, acknowledging his actions as “inexcusable.”
As the legal proceedings continue, Diddy has recently sold his entire stake in Revolt, the media company he co-founded in 2013, amidst the mounting controversies surrounding him.
