Lawyer says there may be 300 potential cases against Diddy

An attorney representing several alleged victims of Sean “Diddy” Combs says the potential number of civil legal cases against the musician “is probably in the 300 range.”

Tony Buzbee told the BBC his team had received around 3,000 calls since he held a press conference to solicit clients in October.

He has already filed 20 lawsuits from men and women seeking damages from the musician; and states that “realistically” the final total will be “between 100 and 150.” Others will not make it to court because the deadline to file claims has expired in certain states.

Combs has denied all charges against him, calling the allegations “disgusting” and the result of people looking for a “quick payday.”

His lawyers have called the multiple civil lawsuits, including claims from 300 potential victims, part of a “reckless media circus.”

They said Buzbee’s news conference and creation of a toll-free tip number were “clear attempts to gain publicity.”

In a statement to the BBC, his lawyer Erica Wolff said: “Mr Combs has complete confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process.

“In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone, whether man or woman, adult or minor.”

The musician is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Manhattan, awaiting trial on separate criminal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, which he also denies.

Buzbee, whose practice is based in Houston, is a larger-than-life character in American legal circles, once described by the New York Times as “a big, mean, ambitious, tenacious, fire-breathing Texas trial lawyer.”

A former Marine and television talk show host, he gained fame by suing energy giant BP after an explosion at an oil refinery in Texas City killed 15 people; and successfully defended former Texas Governor Rick Perry against accusations of abuse of power.

Most recently, she helped a sizable group of women reach out-of-court settlements with American football player Deshaun Watson over allegations that he had sexually assaulted them during private massage sessions.

Her relationship with Combs began last year, after her co-counsel Andrew Van Arsdale, who previously represented hundreds of victims in a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America, began receiving calls about the star.

“I think he got a little overwhelmed and realized this might be more than he could handle (on his own),” Buzbee says.

After agreeing to help, Buzbee asked potential victims to come forward via an Instagram post. In the next 10 days, he estimates his team received 3,000 calls.

Those claims were vetted by a team of attorneys and former law enforcement officials, who came up with a list of clients with cases “that are viable, that have been thoroughly vetted, and that will ultimately be filed,” he says.

“We still get (calls) every day,” he added. “I think the (number of) potential cases is probably in the 300 range, but I think realistically it will ultimately be between 100 and 150.”

The alleged victims include a roughly equal number of men and women; whose accusations span a period of 20 years.

They include a woman who claims Combs raped her in a hotel room in 2004, when she was a 19-year-old college student; and a young aspiring musician who alleges that the musician drugged him and forced him to perform oral sex when he was 10 years old.

Combs’ lawyers denied the allegations, saying in a statement to the BBC that he “has never sexually assaulted anyone, whether adult or minor, male or female.”

So far, the lawsuits have been filed anonymously and the alleged victims are referred to in court documents as John Doe or Jane Doe.

However, Combs’ attorneys have asked the courts to reveal their identities so he can properly prepare for any potential trial.

In three cases so far, including that of the 19-year-old woman, a judge has ruled that they will have to reveal their names for their claims to move forward.

“It happens a lot,” Buzbee told the BBC. “If the plaintiff is forced to reveal his identity, Mr. Combs hopes that he will quietly leave and never file the claim again.

“The good news is that’s not going to happen. That’s something I looked into…so if they’re forced to reveal their identity, they’ll reveal it and we’ll keep moving forward.”

Buzbee added that he had taken similar steps in the DeShaun Watson case, where several women publicly attached their names to lawsuits after a challenge from the athlete’s attorneys.

One lawsuit has received particular attention because it claims other celebrities were involved in Mr. Combs’ alleged crimes.

The case, filed in New York in October, concerns a 13-year-old girl who claims she became disoriented and dizzy after accepting a drink at one of Mr. Combs’ parties.

Shortly afterward, she claims that a man, originally identified as “Celebrity A,” stripped her of her clothes and raped her, while Mr. Combs and a woman named “Celebrity B” watched.

On Sunday, the the plaintiff updated the complaint to identify the first celebrity as rap legend Jay-Z.

In a lengthy statement, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, called the claims “idiotic” and accused Buzbee of trying to blackmail him by threatening to make his name public.

“My heart and support go out to the real victims of the world who have to watch as this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit disguises his life story for profit,” he added.

The musician had previously filed an anonymous lawsuit in Los Angeles, accusing Buzbee of “blatantly” attempting to extort him.

Buzbee responded by saying that the “frivolous” lawsuit was a “last attempt” to prevent Carter’s name from becoming public.

“I am a US Marine,” he wrote in an Instagram statement. “I will not be silenced or intimidated. Neither will my clients.”

Combs’ legal team also denies the allegations and said the extortion charge against Buzbee “exposes his barrage of lawsuits… for what they are: brazen publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear lies will be spread about them.” , as well as Lies have been spread about Mr. Combs.”

The back-and-forth has only fueled speculation that more prominent figures in the music industry will be caught up in the upcoming trials.

Speaking to the BBC, Buzbee described that eventuality as “very likely.”

“If you just look at the behavior that’s alleged, it’s pretty pervasive. A culture was created, a party culture, where anything goes,” he says.

“There was just a general feeling that he (Mr. Combs) was above the law, that he could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and with whomever he wanted.”

Social media has seen a flurry of speculation linking people to Combs’ alleged crimes, based on little more than photographs from showbiz parties in the 1990s and 2000s.

Needless to say, there is no evidence to support those accusations.

There have also been widely debunked forgeries, including a tell-all biography supposedly written by Combs’ late partner Kim Porter; and a viral song, in which Justin Bieber allegedly sang, “I got lost at a Diddy’s party.” The latter turned out to be an AI-generated fake.

Mr. Combs’ lawyers have argued that the number of “false and outrageous” claims made by “government agents, plaintiffs’ attorneys and others with questionable motives” could be “perceived as prejudicial to potential jurors.”

Mr. Buzbee disagrees.

“Obviously, people who come to court as jurors don’t come from nowhere,” he tells the BBC.

“They read the press and they know what’s going on, but I think most people are willing to say, ‘Let’s judge this claim on its merits. What’s the evidence and what’s the defense?'”

In the end, Mr. Buzbee’s clients could face a long wait until their cases are heard in court.

Jennie VonCannon, a former federal prosecutor with experience in sex trafficking and racketeering cases, says the criminal trial against Combs will have to conclude before civil lawsuits can proceed.

“That’s because the Fifth Amendment gives you the right to remain silent,” he told the BBC.

“Therefore, it is necessary that the criminal case goes first, because if you made statements in the civil cases to defend yourself, you could possibly incriminate yourself.”

The BBC understands that Grand Jury hearings for Mr Combs’ criminal trial have continued since charges were brought against him in September.

Some of the alleged victims suing him in civil court are believed to have given testimony at these hearings. VonCannon says the government could easily amend its case as a result.

“There is a belief that no investigation is ever complete,” he says.

“It appears that the government is still actively producing discovery, so it is possible that they will supersede (replace or modify) the indictment, and even add more defendants.”

Currently, the start of the criminal trial is scheduled for May 2025.