Sean 'Diddy' Combs is accused of drugging and assaulting a
woman while she was a college student.
© Image
by NBC News
A woman has filed a new lawsuit against Sean
"Diddy" Combs, claiming the music mogul drugged, assaulted, and
secretly recorded her assault in 1991 while she was a college student.
One day before the New York Adult Survivors Act
expires, on Thursday, the lawsuit was filed in the New York Supreme Court. This
act gives adult survivors of sexual assault a year to file a lawsuit,
regardless of when the original statute of limitations expired.
It's also the third lawsuit in as many days brought
against Combs or one of his businesses, alleging that he or a relative has
abused a minor sexually.
The main focus of the lawsuit is an alleged
conversation between Combs and Joie Dickerson-Neal on January 3, 1991, while
the latter was a psychology student at Syracuse University.
In the filing, Dickerson-Neal stated that she
accompanied Combs on his errands and went to dinner "reluctantly" at
a restaurant in Harlem, New York City. She was, according to the lawsuit, on
winter break from school at the time.
Dickerson-Neal was allegedly "intentionally
drugged" by Combs, which prevented her from being able to walk or stand.
According to the lawsuit, she allegedly took a hit from a blunt after leaving
her drink unattended with him at the restaurant, allegedly at Combs'
instigation.
The lawsuit said that after that, they drove to a
music studio. According to the filing, Combs allegedly took Dickerson-Neal to a
place he was staying at so he could sexually assault her when she was unable to
get out of the car.
Dickerson-Neal claimed in the lawsuit that she was
"humiliated and hurt, yet she could not escape the assault" and that
she "lacked the physical ability or mental capacity to fend Combs
off" as a result of having taken drugs.
Dickerson-Neal was the victim of "revenge
porn," according to the complaint, which also claims Combs recorded the
alleged sexual assault.
A well-known singer from the 1990s allegedly saw an
assault tape.
A few days later, the woman was informed by a male
friend, DeVanté Swing, who was a part of the well-known R&B group Jodeci in
the 1990s, that he had watched a "sex tape" with other people, as per
the lawsuit. Dickerson-Neal claimed that Swing was afraid that if he spoke out
against Combs, his band would lose its record deal. After contacting a Swing
representative for comment, NBC News did not receive a response.
According to the complaint, Dickerson-Neal's life
was sent into a "tailspin" following that encounter with Combs. As
per the filing, she experienced severe depression and suicidal thoughts, which
led to her hospital admission. Ultimately, she left college.
According to the lawsuit, Dickerson-Neal struggled
with his mental health, his ability to advance in his career, and humiliation
as a result of the incident.
According to the lawsuit, Combs had
"repeatedly" approached her "for a romantic or sexual
relationship," but she turned him down because of his alleged
"history of treating women badly." According to the lawsuit,
Dickerson-Neal and Combs were acquainted and had mutual friends. They had also
both appeared in a few short clips from a music video.
According to the filing, she was confused, in pain,
and ashamed, so she decided not to go to the hospital or call the police at the
scene of the assault. The next day, Dickerson-Neal allegedly told her friend
about the assault with tears in her eyes, according to the lawsuit.
Authorities were called, according to the woman
Later, according to the filing, she contacted
multiple prosecutors in an attempt to bring charges, filed police reports in
New York and New Jersey, and asked friends and acquaintances to help her find
the video that Combs was purportedly recording.
As per the lawsuit, Dickerson-Neal's colleagues
informed her that they were afraid of Combs taking revenge on them and that
they would miss out on music and business opportunities if they spoke out in
favor of the plaintiff.
What jurisdictions she filed the reports in, when
she filed them, and what transpired following her conversations with
authorities were not immediately apparent on Thursday.
The NYPD stated that it "takes sexual assault
and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to
file a police report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer
support and services to survivors." However, the department would not
confirm whether it had received a report from Dickerson-Neal.
Dickerson-Neal continued her career in the music
business.
She encountered Combs while working at a party;
according to the lawsuit, he "backed her into a corner" and
"inappropriately confronted her." How long after the alleged assault
the party took place was unclear on Thursday.
During that exchange, Combs allegedly dropped to
his knees and declared, "He did not do what she was saying,"
according to the filing.
In the end, Dickerson-Neal quit the music business
and relocated to California, saying it was too painful to watch Combs' ascent
to fame.
Woman claims she was inspired to act by Cassie's
suit.
According to the filing, she claimed that singer
Cassie's lawsuit against Combs was the catalyst that "forced her to face
his assault again."
Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment, Bad Boy Records, and
Combs Enterprises are named as defendants in Dickerson-Neal's lawsuit, which
was filed on Thursday. Prior to the filing of this lawsuit, a Combs
spokesperson informed NBC News on Wednesday that Combs Enterprises had changed
its name to Combs Global.
Combs is accused of assault and battery, sex
trafficking, deliberate infliction of emotional distress, and revenge porn in
the most recent lawsuit. Dickerson-Neal is requesting monetary compensation for
pain and suffering, emotional and mental distress, and physical harm.
Attorney Michelle Caiola for Dickerson-Neal said in
a statement, "Everyone deserves to be heard and Combs should not be immune
from liability because of his wealth and public stature."
"Our client has not been able to escape the
continuing impact of the harm Combs caused her many years ago," said
another lawyer, Jonathan Goldhirsch. She can use the Adult Survivors Act to
access the legal system and seek justice at last.
The lawyers said they would not be making any more remarks.
Combs's team denied the allegations.
A Combs representative stated, "This
last-minute lawsuit is an example of how a well-intentioned law can be turned
on its head." "The 32-year-old Ms. Dickerson's story is untrue and
made up. She accuses businesses that never existed, even though Mr. Combs never
physically hurt her. This is nothing more than an attempt to siphon off money.
Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie filed a $30 million
lawsuit last week, claiming that Combs had sexually assaulted, trafficked, and
mistreated her. A day later, the lawsuit was settled for a sum of money that
was not disclosed.
"I decided to resolve this matter amicably on
terms that I have some level of control," stated Cassie, whose full name
is Cassandra Ventura.
Combs' attorney, Ben Brafman, stated in a statement
on Saturday that a settlement "is in no way an admission of
wrongdoing," particularly in 2023.
He stated, "Mr. Combs' choice to resolve the
lawsuit does not in any way contradict his categorically denied allegations."
A lawsuit alleging sexual assault of a former
assistant was filed in New York Supreme Court on Tuesday against Harve Pierre,
the former President of Bad Boy Entertainment and Bad Boy Records. Combs'
businesses were also mentioned in the lawsuit on two counts of negligence and
one count of gender-motivated violence.
Pierre did not immediately reply to a request for
comment, but on Wednesday, a representative for Bad Boy Entertainment stated
that the business was aware of the lawsuit filed by a former worker.
The spokesperson stated, "The allegations are
from many years ago that were never brought to the company's attention."
"The executive and the plaintiff are not currently employed by the
company. While we look into the claims, our first concern is for the security
and welfare of our workers.
