A significant ruling has emerged in a lawsuit involving American rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, where the plaintiff, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, was awarded $100 million by default due to Combs’ failure to respond. The lawsuit stems from allegations that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted Cardello-Smith during a party in Detroit back in 1997. Combs’ legal team has firmly denied these allegations.
Cardello-Smith, 51, a convicted felon currently serving time, has a known history of filing civil lawsuits. His legal representatives have accused Combs of “fraud on the court,” asserting that the rapper intends to contest the judgment. Combs’ legal team emphasized that they were unaware of the lawsuit because he was not properly served notice.
Default judgments are issued when defendants do not respond to lawsuits. In this case, Judge Anna Marie Anzalone of the Lenawee County Circuit Court awarded the judgment after Combs failed to appear for a hearing on September 9. Cardello-Smith claims to have encountered Combs in the 1990s while working in Detroit’s restaurant and hospitality sector. He further stated that Combs had recently offered him $2.3 million to withdraw his lawsuit, a proposal he declined.
In his defense, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, stated that the rapper did not know Cardello-Smith. Currently, Cardello-Smith is incarcerated for unrelated charges of sexual misconduct and kidnapping.
This lawsuit is part of a growing list of sexual assault allegations leveled against Combs, a prominent figure in the music industry. Recently, allegations from Combs’ former partner, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, also surfaced, leading to a settlement outside of court. Combs initially denied all accusations but later expressed regret following the release of CCTV footage that appeared to show him engaging in violent behavior towards Ventura.
Furthermore, federal agents recently conducted searches at two properties owned by Combs as a part of an ongoing investigation into sex trafficking. His legal representatives described the raid as an “unprecedented ambush,” reiterating their client’s innocence.
