Judge Rules On Jay-Z's Motion To Dismiss Rape Accuser's Lawsuit
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on January 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM EST
Jay-Z has moved one step closer in his legal effort to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of the 2000 rape of a 13-year-old girl.
In a recent development, Judge Analisa Torres of the Southern District of New York granted Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, permission to file a motion to dismiss the case on procedural grounds.
The ruling, made on Thursday, January 2, sets a timeline for the next steps in Jay-Z's high-profile legal battle.
Jay-Z's Lawyer Argues For Dismissal Of Rape Accuser's Lawsuit
As The Blast reported, in a letter submitted to the court on Monday, December 30, Spiro argued that the plaintiff—identified only as "Jane Doe"—cannot pursue a claim under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act (GMVPA) because the law was enacted after the alleged assault took place.
Jane Doe alleges that she was raped by Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in September 2000 when she was just 13 years old. Both Jay-Z and Diddy have categorically denied the allegations.
What Did The Letter To Judge Torres Say?
The GMVPA law offering civil recourse to survivors of gender-motivated violence came into effect in December 2000, months after the alleged incident. However, an amendment in December 2022 temporarily reopened a two-year window allowing victims to file lawsuits for historical claims that would have otherwise been barred by the statute of limitations.
“Plaintiff cannot recover for her sole claim under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act (the GMV Law), as a matter of law, because the statute does not have retroactive effect,” Spiro's letter to Judge Torres said.
“Plaintiff asserts a violation of the GMV Law for conduct that purportedly occurred in September 2000. But the GMV Law was not enacted until December 19, 2000, three months after the FAC claims the conduct occurred, and cannot apply retroactively to create a cause of action unavailable to Plaintiff at the time in question.”
Jane Doe's Attorney Opposes Jay-Z's Request To File
Doe's attorney, Tony Buzbee, submitted a letter to Judge Torres on Tuesday, December 31, opposing Jay-Z's request to file for dismissal.
In the letter, Buzbee argued that “Defendant’s argument as to the GMVA is unpersuasive, as it is contrary to the law’s primary intention: to make it easier for victims of gender-motivated violence to seek civil remedies in court—not, as Defendant would have it, make it harder,” according to court documents shared by Meghann M. Cuniff on Thursday.
Jay-Z’s Request To File For Dismissal Granted By Judge
On Thursday, January 2, Judge Analisa Torres of the Southern District of New York approved a request from Jay-Z's attorney, Alex Spiro, allowing him to file a motion to dismiss the case on procedural grounds, according to court documents shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, by legal affairs journalist Meghann M. Cuniff.
Under Judge Torres' ruling:
- Jay-Z's legal team must file their motion to dismiss by February 6.
- Jane Doe’s attorneys have until February 28 to submit their opposition papers.
- Jay-Z’s lawyers then have an opportunity to reply by March 14.
The outcome of the motion will determine whether the case proceeds to trial or is dismissed on procedural grounds.
Jay-Z Reportedly Distancing Himself from Diddy As Rape Lawsuit Intensifies
Last month, it was reported by The Daily Mail that Jay-Z is reportedly prepared to take any measures necessary to defend himself against rape allegations, even if it means severing ties with fellow rap mogul Diddy, who is also named in the lawsuit.
A source revealed to the outlet that the Roc Nation founder has "zero loyalty" to Diddy and wouldn’t hesitate to throw him "under the bus" if it helps protect his reputation.
The insider noted that Jay-Z had already begun distancing himself from Diddy following the rapper's arrest on sex crime charges in September. They emphasized that Jay-Z’s legal actions are purely self-serving, aimed at securing his own protection. "The moment Diddy was arrested, Jay-Z scrubbed him from his existence. He is going after [lawyer Tony] Buzbee for himself and not for anyone else," the source shared.
They continued, "The only thing that he cares about is him never stepping foot inside a jail cell and his family being safe. Jay-Z is extremely powerful and will deploy any tactic necessary."
