Several lawsuits tied to Sean “Diddy” Combs have been dismissed by judges since late 2024, most prominently his own $100 million defamation suit against NBCUniversal, which a New York State Supreme Court judge threw out on April 20, 2026 after finding his reputation was already too damaged to be harmed further by a Peacock documentary. Other dismissals have involved civil claims filed against Combs, most of them tossed on statute-of-limitations grounds or because anonymous plaintiffs would not or could not proceed under their real names. Dozens of civil cases against him remain active.
Why Combs’ Defamation Suit Against NBCUniversal Was Thrown Out
Combs filed the defamation action in New York State Supreme Court on February 25, 2025, seeking at least $100 million from NBCUniversal over the Peacock documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.1Deadline. Sean Combs NBC Lawsuit Dismissed The film featured interview subjects who speculated that Combs played a role in the deaths of Kim Porter, Andre Harrell, Heavy D, and The Notorious B.I.G.2Billboard. Diddy Can’t Sue NBC Over Biggie, Kim Porter Death Claims His complaint said the documentary “shamelessly” advanced conspiracy theories and cast him as a “monster,” an “embodiment of Lucifer,” and a figure comparable to Jeffrey Epstein.
Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond granted NBCUniversal’s motion to dismiss in full.3Forbes. Judge Dismisses Sean Diddy Combs 100 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against NBCUniversal She held that Combs had not shown “a substantial basis regarding reputational harm,” calling it “inconceivable” that the documentary caused additional damage given a reputation “already tarnished by the numerous lawsuits, domestic violence video, press coverage, and a criminal indictment.”4The New York Times. Sean Combs Defamation Lawsuit NBC Peacock The judge cited Combs’ own statement at his October 2025 sentencing: “Because of my decisions, I lost my freedom. I lost my career. I totally destroyed my reputation.”5The Hollywood Reporter. Sean Diddy Combs Defamation Lawsuit NBC Peacock Dismissed
Perry-Bond also described the film as “carefully curated and nuanced,” noting it disclosed interviewees’ biases, included counterstatements, cited autopsy results contradicting foul-play theories, and presented a statement from Kim Porter’s children denying Combs’ involvement in her death.3Forbes. Judge Dismisses Sean Diddy Combs 100 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against NBCUniversal She concluded the film did not meet the threshold for “grossly irresponsible journalism.”2Billboard. Diddy Can’t Sue NBC Over Biggie, Kim Porter Death Claims
NBCUniversal’s lead attorney, Ted Boutrous Jr. of Gibson Dunn, said the ruling “protects filmmakers and journalists by dismissing this meritless complaint as barred by New York law and the First Amendment.”1Deadline. Sean Combs NBC Lawsuit Dismissed Combs’ representatives said only that they had “no comment ‘at this time.'”5The Hollywood Reporter. Sean Diddy Combs Defamation Lawsuit NBC Peacock Dismissed There is no indication as of mid-2026 that an appeal has been filed.
Civil Cases Against Combs That Judges Dismissed
Several suits filed against Combs have also been dismissed, on different grounds depending on the case.
Cases Dismissed on Statute-of-Limitations Grounds
An anonymous plaintiff represented by attorney Tony Buzbee alleged in February 2025 that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a Los Angeles afterparty in 2015. On August 26, 2025, New York State Justice Leslie Stroth dismissed the case as untimely under both New York and California law, rejecting the argument that a 2019 New York statute extending the limitations period to 20 years applied retroactively.6Vibe. Sean Diddy Combs Sexual Battery Lawsuit Dismissed Buzbee said he intended to refile in California.7Billboard. Diddy Wins Civil Case Judge Dismisses John Doe Lawsuit
Former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard sued in September 2024 alleging assault, battery, employment discrimination, emotional distress, and a copyright claim over song compensation. On June 12, 2026, federal Judge Katherine Polk Failla dismissed most of the claims because the alleged conduct ended in 2011 or 2012, well beyond the applicable limitations periods.8The New York Times. Sean Combs Lawsuit Dismissed Dawn Richard The judge did allow Richard to refile one claim in state court under New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act, and her attorney said she would do so.9ABC7 New York. Judge Tosses Singer Dawn Richard’s Lawsuit Against Sean Diddy Combs
Cases Dismissed Over Anonymity
A federal suit brought by an anonymous 39-year-old man alleging sexual assault at a 2022 New York house party was dismissed on November 20, 2024. The judge ruled the plaintiff had not obtained court permission to proceed under a pseudonym before filing.10ABC News. Sean Diddy Combs Accused of Sexually Assaulting 39-Year-Old Man At least two lawsuits filed by Buzbee’s team were dismissed in their entirety after anonymous plaintiffs would not comply with orders to reveal their identities or chose not to continue once anonymity was denied. In one case, a federal judge dismissed the matter in March 2025 after the plaintiff declined to refile under her real name.11Rolling Stone. Sean Combs Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed Jane Doe Identity At least two other anonymous-plaintiff cases were under similar court orders as of early 2025.12Business Insider. Sean Diddy Combs Lawsuit Anonymity Tony Buzbee
The Jay-Z Rape Suit, Voluntarily Dismissed
A lawsuit alleging Combs and Jay-Z raped a 13-year-old girl at a party in 2000 was voluntarily dismissed “with prejudice” in February 2025, meaning it cannot be refiled.13BBC. Jay-Z and Diddy Rape Lawsuit Dismissed Jay-Z’s attorney Alex Spiro had highlighted inconsistencies in the accuser’s account. The plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, later said in a court declaration that she withdrew the case because she feared intimidation and retaliation.14The Hollywood Reporter. Jay-Z Sean Diddy Combs Rape Lawsuit Dropped Buzbee moved to dismiss one day after the Southern District of New York’s Committee on Grievances rejected his application to practice in that court.15Houston Public Media. Tony Buzbee Withdraws From Diddy Lawsuit in NY
Not Every “Dismissal” Ended the Case
Music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones brought a sprawling complaint against Combs that included RICO, sex trafficking, sexual assault, breach of contract, and emotional distress claims. On March 24, 2025, Judge J. Paul Oetken dismissed the RICO claims against Combs and co-defendant Kristina Khorram, along with the breach of contract and emotional distress claims.16Rolling Stone. Sean Combs Wins Dismissal of RICO Claims in Lil Rod Lawsuit The sexual assault, premises liability, and sex trafficking claims survived and are set to proceed.17Variety. Sean Diddy Combs Judge Dismisses Five Charges in Case
How Much Litigation Is Still Active
The dismissals cover only a slice of the docket. As of late 2025, Combs faced roughly 70 civil lawsuits, most of them still active.18New York Post. Sean Diddy Combs Still Faces Nearly 70 Lawsuits After Sentencing The Buzbee Law Firm alone has said it represents more than 150 accusers, though many of those claims have not been filed.19Fox 5 New York. NYC Diddy Lawsuits New Sean Combs In June 2026, a former child actor filed a new suit in California alleging Combs sexually assaulted him at a 2007 event in the Hollywood Hills.20ABC News. New Lawsuit Accuses Sean Diddy Combs of Sexually Assaulting Former Child Actor The most significant civil matter to reach a resolution before trial was not a dismissal: Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s November 2023 suit alleging rape, sex trafficking, and years of physical abuse settled the next day for $20 million, with Combs’ attorney saying the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing.21ABC News. Cassie Ventura’s Lawyer Releases Statement on Diddy Split Verdict
The Criminal Case Behind the Dismissals
Perry-Bond’s reasoning in the NBCUniversal ruling leaned heavily on Combs’ criminal record, so the outlines matter. A Southern District of New York grand jury indicted him in September 2024 on racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act.22U.S. Department of Justice. Sean Combs Charged in Manhattan Federal Court With Sex Trafficking and Other Federal Offenses23PBS NewsHour. Sean Diddy Combs Acquitted of Most Serious Trafficking and Racketeering Charges24NBC New York. Live Updates Diddy Court Sentencing25KCRA. Sean Diddy Combs Prison Release Date Pushed Back26CourtListener. United States of America v. Combs