Earlier this week, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, a 51-year-old inmate at Michigan’s Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility, received a default judgment of $100 million in his lawsuit against Sean Combs, also known as Diddy.
Cardello-Smith alleges that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a Detroit party in 1997. He also claimed that Combs offered him $2.3 million to drop the lawsuit.
The judgment was issued by Lenawee County Circuit Court Judge Anna Marie Anzalone after Combs failed to attend a virtual hearing.
Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, responded by accusing Cardello-Smith of committing fraud and claimed that Combs had never heard of him or been served with the lawsuit.
Agnifilo expressed confidence that the judgment would be overturned and described the lawsuit as meritless and based on falsehoods.
On Thursday, Combs’ legal team filed an emergency motion to overturn the default judgment and dissolve the temporary restraining order. They argue that Cardello-Smith’s claims are frivolous and that the statute of limitations on the allegations has long expired. They also noted Cardello-Smith’s history of filing unfounded lawsuits.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Dawn Richard from Danity Kane became the eighth person to accuse Combs of sexual assault.
In March, law enforcement conducted raids on Combs’ properties in Miami and New York City.
Combs has denied all allegations and has not been charged with any crimes.
