A judge has reportedly awarded Diddy $100 million in damages in a sexual assault lawsuit filed by inmate Derrick Lee Cardello Smith.
Cardello Smith filed a $100 million lawsuit against the famed singer, alleging that Diddy sexually assaulted her at a party in Detroit in 1997. TMZAccording to court records, Diddy did not file an answer to the complaint. A default judgment hearing was held on September 9, but Diddy did not attend, the outlet reported. As a result, the judge reportedly ruled in favor of Cardell Smith and awarded Diddy $100 million in damages.
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Sean “P Diddy” Combs performs at Escape To Total Rewards at Gotham Hall in New York City on March 1, 2012. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images, courtesy of Caesars Entertainment)
According to TMZ, the judge ordered Diddy to pay $10 million per month to his prison ward, starting October 1st.
Cardello Smith reportedly claims in his lawsuit that he and Diddy were drinking alcohol, using marijuana, and were with several women at a party in 1997. He claims he was performing oral sex on a woman when Diddy came over and put his hand on his buttocks, according to the outlet. He claims Diddy handed him a drink a short time later, which he believes was laced with drugs, according to TMZ.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 20: Sean “Diddy” Combs performs at Howard University's Yardfest in Washington, DC on October 20, 2023. (Photo by Thaddeus McAdams/WireImage) Getty Images
According to TMZ, the inmate claims in his lawsuit that he passed out shortly after drinking the drink, then woke up a few hours later to see Diddy having sex with a woman. Diddy reportedly turned to him and said, “I did the same thing to you.”
It remains unclear whether the statute of limitations has run.
Diddy's lawyer, Mark Anifilo, released a statement to TMZ denying Cardello Smith's allegations.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – NOVEMBER 7, 2023: Diddy performs at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire during a special one-night only event at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on November 7, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by: Sean Diddy Combs, Samir Hussain/Getty Images)
“This man [Cardello-Smith] “He is a convicted felon and sexual predator, convicted of 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the past 26 years,” Anifilo said, according to TMZ. (RELATED: Former model Crystal McKinney accuses Diddy of drugging and sexually assaulting her in new lawsuit)
“His record now includes committing fraud on the courts from prison, a crime Ms. Combs has never heard of or been sued by,” the lawyer reportedly added.
According to TMZ, he added, “Mr. Combs expects this case to be dismissed promptly.”
