Rapper Jay-Z’s lawyer has asked a court to throw out a lawsuit accusing him, along with Sean “Daddy” Combs, of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000, after the allegations There were contradictions.
An Alabama woman, named in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, has accused the musicians of drugging and assaulting her at a house party after the MTV Video Music Awards.
He claimed he spoke to a celebrity at the party, although his rep said he was on tour at the time. Her father told NBC News that he can’t remember driving five hours to pick her up after the alleged assault, as she says.
In an interview with NBC, the woman admitted to making “some mistakes” in her accusation, but said she stood by her claim.
Rape support providers say it’s common for victims of such assaults to remember some details, especially if they were allegedly drugged.
The lawsuit is part of dozens of sexual assault cases filed against Mr. Combs, who is awaiting trial in New York on federal sex-trafficking charges. He was denied bail for the third time last month. Mr Combs denies all allegations.
Jay-Z’s lawyer Alex Spiro asked the court to dismiss Jane Doe’s case, saying in a statement to the BBC: “It is shocking that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper investigation, Rather, it will make the situation worse. Further spreading this false story in the press.”
The rapper, whose real name is Sean Carter, released a statement to the BBC saying lawyer Tony Busby filed the lawsuit “in pursuit of money and fame”.
“This incident did not happen and yet he filed it in court and doubled down in the press,” his statement said.
“True justice is coming. We fight to win, not to win. It’s over before it starts. That 1-800 lawyer doesn’t realize it yet, but soon.”
The BBC is contacting Mr Coombs’ lawyer for comment.
Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing.
Mr Buzby said his firm was continuing to investigate his client’s claims.
The woman in the lawsuit says a waitress offered her a drink at the party, which “freaked out,” so she went to a room to lie down.
Soon after, the lawsuit says, Mr. Combs and Mr. Carter entered the room with a female celebrity, known as Celebrity Bee.
The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Carter grabbed her and raped her, before Mr. Combs did the same, all of which was witnessed by celebrity B.
However, photos from that evening show Jay-Z and Mr Combs in a different location than the accuser described. It is not clear whether their whereabouts have been accounted for throughout Syria.
The woman claimed in her allegation that she had spoken to musicians Benji and Joel Madden, who she said were among several celebrities at the house party. She does not accuse them of any wrongdoing.
But Madden’s rep told NBC that the brothers were on tour in the Midwest during this year’s VMAs.
The woman’s father told NBC that he doesn’t remember driving more than five hours to pick up his daughter after the alleged ordeal.
“I think I’ll remember it, and I don’t,” he said.
The woman’s lawyer, Mr. Busby, told NBC that his client stood by his claim.
“Our client is adamant that what he said is to the best of his recollection,” he said.
“We will continue to investigate his claims and gather corroborating data to the extent that it exists.
“Because we have questioned him so intensely, he has also agreed to submit to a polygraph. I have never advised a client like that before.”
The woman, now 38 and a mother of two, told NBC in an interview from Houston, Texas: “You should never let what someone else does ruin your life or drove away
“I just hope that I can give others the strength to come forward like I came forward.”
“Trauma like rape can have short- and long-term effects on the brain that affect decision-making and memory,” said Erin Robinson, director of media relations for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).
“Memories may be fragmented, and details may not be recalled in the correct order,” he told the BBC.
Ms. Robinson said these effects are common and that police departments are trained to handle such cases to reduce the chances of charges being dismissed because the victim’s memory appears disjointed or inconsistent.