Sean “Diddy” Combs earned a partial legal victory on Tuesday after a New York judge dismissed a key claim in a lawsuit filed by April Lampros. The judge ruled that the statute of limitations had expired on Lampros’ accusation that Diddy raped her in the 1990s.
Judge Leslie A. Stroth said the case could not proceed under New York City’s Gender Motivated Violence Act because of a recent appellate court decision, which limits such claims to incidents occurring after December 19, 2000. Lampros’ lawyers had tried to use the act to bypass traditional time limits on filing such claims.
Despite the dismissal, the case is not over. Lampros is still pursuing claims that Diddy forcibly kissed and groped her in the early 2000s, although she cannot recall the exact dates. Judge Stroth said these claims will not be dismissed at this stage, as more discovery is needed to determine if they fall within the legal timeframe.
Diddy’s legal team responded to the ruling, saying it “significantly” narrows the allegations. They also emphasized that no evidence has yet been presented in court and that the ruling does not reflect on the truth of the claims.
Lampros’ lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, remains committed to pursuing the case. He stated he plans to depose Diddy within 60 days and will begin discovery immediately.
This lawsuit is one of several Diddy currently faces. Just this week, another anonymous accuser filed a separate complaint involving an alleged 2020 incident. Diddy’s lawyers have denied all allegations, saying he will continue to fight to clear his name.
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