Diddy isn’t escaping the slew of sexual assault allegations levied against him. The rapper first got entangled in legal troubles when his ex-girlfriend Cassie accused him of rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence in November 2023. Her lawsuit opened the floodgates, and more alleged victims came forward. However, it seems Diddy couldn’t keep up with the lawsuit, and an oversight has landed him in hot financial waters.
On Monday, a judge hit the disgraced musician with a $100 million default judgment. The ruling is for a case brought by an inmate at the Earnest C Brooks correctional facility. The plaintiff, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, claimed in his suit that Diddy drugged and sexually assaulted him at a party in Detroit in 1997. Per TMZ, he recalled drinking and smoking with the Last Night rapper when naked women came into the mix. While hooking up with one of the women, Cardello-Smith claimed he felt Diddy’s on his buttock. Shortly after, he took a drink offered by the rapper and passed out. Upon waking up, Diddy, who was having sex with a woman, allegedly told him, “I did this to you too.“
The incarcerated plaintiff sued for $100 million and even provided evidence showing the rapper’s name in a prison visitation log. Per Detroit MetroTimes, he also testified that Diddy told him he would not acknowledge his claims in court, saying, “You know how we get down.” Unfortunately, Diddy’s dismissal returned to bite him. After missing a virtual hearing on Monday, a judge awarded Cardello-Smith a default judgment of $100m. A monthly payment schedule of $10 million, starting October 1, has been established.
Diddy’s Team Fights Judgement, Calls It ‘A Fraud’
Following the harsh ruling, an attorney for the Bad Boys Record founder issued a statement. “This man [Cardello-Smith] is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years,” Marc Agnifilo told the publication. “His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison.” Diddy’s lawyer further claimed that his client “has never heard” of the plaintiff and vowed to dismiss the judgment.
The unfavorable ruling comes weeks after federal authorities doubled down on their efforts to convict him. In late August, prosecutors from the Southern District of New York got a subpoena to investigate a hotel in Florida where Diddy and his ex, Daphne Joy, regularly visited. The subpoena covered reservation records from January 1, 2008, to the present, going over information like check-in and check-out dates, room numbers, guest preferences and requests, billing information, and other details.
