Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been hit with a staggering $100 million default judgment in a civil s*xual assault lawsuit filed by Michigan inmate Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, according to Variety. The explosive lawsuit, which dates back to an alleged incident in 1997, took a shocking turn as Diddy failed to respond or appear in court, leading to the massive judgment issued by a judge earlier this week.
Cardello-Smith, who filed the lawsuit in June, claims he met Diddy at a Detroit hotel after-party in June 1997. According to court documents, Cardello-Smith alleges that he drank with Diddy and other female guests before following the music producer and two women into a private hotel room. The suit further alleges that, after engaging in s*xual activity with one of the women, Cardello-Smith felt Diddy touch his butt.
Moments later, Cardello-Smith claims that Diddy offered him a drink, which he believes was spiked, causing him to pass out. When he awoke hours later, he alleges he saw Diddy having s*x with a woman in the same room. These chilling allegations form the basis of the $100 million lawsuit, which has now resulted in a monumental financial penalty for the music mogul.
The default judgment was issued after Diddy failed to respond to the lawsuit or make an appearance in court, as reported by USA Today. Legal experts note that default judgments are granted when one party in a case fails to take necessary legal actions, such as responding to a summons or appearing at a court hearing.
Cardello-Smith testified during an August 7 hearing that Diddy even visited him in jail once, later sending a financial advisor to offer him $2.3 million to drop the lawsuit. However, Cardello-Smith turned down the offer, opting to pursue the legal case, which has now resulted in the staggering $100 million award.
In a move that further complicates Diddy’s legal troubles, the judge set a payment schedule for the judgment, requiring Diddy to pay $10 million per month starting on October 1, according to TMZ.
This is not the first time Diddy has faced serious accusations. In 2023, his ex-girlfriend, Cassie (real name Casandra Ventura), filed a lawsuit against him alleging years of s*xual abuse, physical violence, and disturbing demands. Although Diddy later issued a public apology to Cassie, his legal troubles seem to be far from over as new lawsuits continue to emerge.
Diddy has denied all allegations against him, including those in the recent Cardello-Smith case. However, with a $100 million judgment hanging over his head, the pressure on the rap icon is mounting in what has become an increasingly troubling year for the star.