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Jay-Z’s Defamation Lawsuit Faces Motion to Dismiss from Rape Accuser
The legal battle involving Jay-Z and his rape accuser continues as the latter seeks to have a federal judge dismiss Jay-Z’s defamation lawsuit. Her legal team argues that she cannot be sued for statements made as part of court proceedings, emphasizing that an interview she gave to NBC News is similarly protected.
In a motion submitted this Tuesday, Jane Doe’s attorneys, led by Tony Buzbee, contended that her serious allegations against the rapper fall under the “fair report privilege.” This legal principle typically shields individuals from defamation claims stemming from statements made during judicial proceedings.
Jay-Z initiated his lawsuit in March after Doe withdrew her previous allegations against him. He asserts that her remarks during an NBC News interview amounted to defamation, but Doe’s new filing maintains that those statements also enjoy the same protection of “fair report” privilege.
Her legal representatives argued, “A reasonable audience would understand that the statements made in the report pertain to the allegations put forth in the lawsuit.”
Originally, Doe’s lawsuit alleged that both Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs drugged and assaulted a young girl at a post-event gathering after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Jay-Z has categorically denied these claims, describing them as an attempt at blackmail. After a brief two-month litigation period, Doe decided to withdraw her case without securing any financial settlement.
Following the dismissal of her case, Jay-Z responded with a defamation lawsuit against both Doe and Buzbee, accusing them of orchestrating an “evil conspiracy” aimed at extorting money from him through false accusations of sexual assault.
“Mr. Carter is not initiating this legal action lightly,” his lawyers stated in the lawsuit filed in a federal court in Alabama. “However, the actions taken against Mr. Carter by Doe and her representatives amount to extortion and must be addressed.”
In their motion to dismiss, Doe and Buzbee’s attorneys reinforced that their statements made in court should not be grounds for a lawsuit. Furthermore, they asserted that the protections of the “fair report privilege” extend to Doe’s statements in her NBC interview, even if the phrasing differed from her court claims.
According to the lawyers, “The lack of a preface regarding Doe’s amended complaint in the NBC News report is irrelevant. The essence of Doe’s statements aligns closely with her initial allegations, regardless of word choice.”
Moreover, they argued that Jay-Z’s other claims within his lawsuit also lack a solid foundation, contending he has failed to provide adequate evidence to pursue charges of malicious prosecution. A representative for Jay-Z has not yet provided feedback on the latest developments.
This lawsuit in Alabama is just one facet of an extensive legal conflict between Jay-Z and Buzbee arising from the rape allegations. Concurrently, a separate case in California sees Jay-Z suing Buzbee for alleged extortion and defamation, with a ruling pending from a judge. Additionally, Buzbee has initiated his own lawsuits against Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and his established law firm, Quinn Emanuel, claiming that they engaged in harassment and other inappropriate actions against his clients.
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www.billboard.com