A federal judge ruled that a woman accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault couldn’t proceed with her lawsuit under the pseudonym “Jane Doe.” Instead, the woman must identify herself if she wishes to continue with her case.
In her decision, Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil explained that Combs had the right to defend himself. That includes the opportunity to investigate his accuser’s claims.
“Defendants have a right to defend themselves, and the people have a right to know who is using their courts,” Vyskocil wrote.
This lawsuit is one of more than a dozen filed against Combs since his September arrest on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Vyskocil’s case was filed individually but could impact other cases involving the rapper.
The accuser, a Tennessee woman, claimed that Combs raped her in 2004 when she was 19 years old. Her legal team argued that she should be allowed to remain anonymous due to concerns that Combs might harm her.
However, Vyskocil rejected this argument. She noted that Combs has had no contact with the woman in nearly 20 years and is currently detained while awaiting trial.
The judge emphasized that “public humiliation” alone wasn’t sufficient grounds for keeping the woman’s identity secret. Vyskocil also highlighted that several other plaintiffs in similar cases had filed under their real names.
Combs has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. His representatives issued a brief statement following the ruling, saying, “The ruling speaks for itself.”
Vyskocil set a deadline of Nov. 13 for the woman to refile under her real name; otherwise, her lawsuit will be dismissed.
