The default judgment came after Combs failed to appear for a virtual hearing on Monday.
New judicial setback for the rapper and businessman Sean “Diddy” Combsa Michigan inmate has won a $100 million default sexual assault judgment against the producer, who has been the subject of multiple sexual misconduct allegations over the past year.
According to Detroit’s Metro Times and court documents, the amount was awarded Monday by a Lenawee County Circuit Court judge following a temporary restraining order against Combs granted to Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith51, whom he describes as “a Michigan inmate known for his long history of challenging the court system with civil lawsuits.” The lawsuit claims Combs drugged and sexually assaulted Cardello-Smith in 1997. at a party in Detroit; the judge set a payment schedule of $10 million a month, starting October 1.
The default judgment came after Combs failed to appear for a virtual hearing on Monday.
What the lawsuit against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs says
The lawsuit claims Cardello-Smith encountered Combs while working at a Detroit-area restaurant. The two met a group of women at a party and were having sex with them when Cardello-Smith says he felt a male hand touching him, which he claimed was Combs. He said Combs then offered him a drink, which was spiked and caused him to pass out. He said he woke up to see Combs having sex with a woman; Combs allegedly told him, “I did this to you, too.”
According to the Metro Times, Cardello-Smith, who is serving an unrelated sentence, is a self-taught student of civil and criminal statutes.
Cardello-Smith claims Combs offered her $2.3 million to drop the lawsuit in Augustbut he refused and said he would move forward with legal action. Combs allegedly responded, “You know how we behave”; Cardello-Smith said he replied, “I don’t agree with how you behave.”
Although Combs has denied most of the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct that have been leveled against him, In June he admitted to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura after footage of a 2016 incident at a hotel was leaked. He apologized and said he was “f***ed.”
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
