Jay-Z Seeks Sanctions Against Lawyer Over 2000 Assault Lawsuit

Rapper Jay-Z is challenging a lawsuit accusing him and Sean 'Diddy' Combs of raping a 13-year-old girl during a 2000 Video Music Awards after-party. In a recent court filing, Jay-Z's legal team has requested a federal judge to dismiss the case and impose sanctions on the plaintiff's attorney, Tony Buzbee, citing significant factual inaccuracies and a lack of due diligence. Among the discrepancies highlighted is the plaintiff's father's claim that he has no memory of picking up his daughter, contradicting the lawsuit's narrative. Additionally, Jay-Z's attorney pointed out that the plaintiff's assertion of conversing with musician Benji Madden at the party conflicts with Madden's alibi of being on tour at that time. Buzbee has dismissed these inconsistencies as expected memory lapses and defended the validity of the lawsuit, leading to a contentious back-and-forth in court documents. Jay-Z's legal team argues that Buzbee failed to meet with the plaintiff prior to filing, which they claim violates ethical standards.