NEW YORK — A federal judge dismissed most of singer Dawn Richard’s lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, ruling that many of her claims were filed after the deadline allowed under New York law.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla issued the ruling on Friday, and the decision became public on Monday. The court found that most of Richard’s allegations, including claims of emotional and physical abuse, were time-barred because they were filed more than a decade after the alleged incidents occurred.
Failla said Richard may refile one claim in state court under New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act. However, the judge ruled that claims filed beyond the applicable statute of limitations cannot be refiled.
In the decision, Failla stated that the court’s ruling was separate from any assessment of the allegations themselves, describing the alleged conduct as “execrable” if proven true.
Richard’s attorney, Arick Fudali, said the singer plans to pursue the remaining claim in state court.
“We certainly agree with the Judge that the allegations in this case are execrable,” Fudali said in a statement. “We intend to continue to fight for Dawn until justice is achieved.”
Representatives for Combs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. When Richard filed the lawsuit in September 2024, Combs’ representatives said he was “shocked and disappointed” by the allegations and questioned why Richard continued working with him if the claims were true.
Richard performed with the Bad Boy Records groups Danity Kane and Diddy–Dirty Money from 2004 to 2012. She also testified during Combs’ federal trial in New York, where a jury convicted him on prostitution-related charges and acquitted him of sex trafficking charges.
During her testimony, Richard said she witnessed Combs assault his then-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, in 2009 and later threaten her to remain silent about the incident.
In her lawsuit, Richard alleged that she experienced abuse, manipulation and violence during her association with Combs. She also claimed that Combs deprived her and other performers of food and sleep, subjected them to hostile treatment, and exposed them to drug-fueled gatherings involving alleged sexual misconduct.
The lawsuit further alleged that Richard witnessed Combs physically assault Ventura on multiple occasions.
Ventura later testified during Combs’ criminal trial, which resulted in a prison sentence of four years and two months.