Sean Combs aka Diddy attends the celebration for Diddy’s birthday and new album launch at LAVO on 9 November 2023 in London, England. (Dave Benett/Getty Images for TAO Group Hospitality)
- Rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 54, has been ordered to pay $100 million to a Michigan inmate after a default sexual assault judgment.
- The lawsuit claimed that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, 51, in 1997 at a Detroit party.
- The default judgment was made because Combs failed to appear for a virtual hearing on Monday.
Rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 54, has been ordered to pay $100 million to a Michigan inmate after a default sexual assault judgment.
The lawsuit claimed that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, 51, in 1997 at a Detroit party. Cardello-Smith, who is a Michigan inmate, has a history of “challenging the judicial system with civil lawsuits”, according to Detroit’s Metro Times.
Cardello-Smith had previously been granted a temporary restraining order against Combs.
Cardello-Smith was awarded the judgment on Monday and the judge set out a payment schedule of $10 million per month starting on 1 October, according to Variety.
The default judgment was made because Combs failed to appear for a virtual hearing on Monday.
An attorney for Combs Marc Agnifilo said they were seeking to get the judgment dismissed.
READ | ‘Far more sinister acts than previously known’: Diddy faces 9th sexual assault lawsuit
Agnifilo said of Cardello-Smith:
“This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years. His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit. Mr Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed.”
Cardello-Smith claimed that Combs previously offered him $2.3 million dollars to dismiss the lawsuit, which he declined.
Combs has been hit with multiple sexual assault allegations by different people. In July, Combs was faced with his ninth sexual assault lawsuit.
A video had also emerged of Combs beating his former partner, Casandra Ventura.
Though Combs has dismissed most of the allegations, he made a public apology after the assault video was leaked.