Man Wins $100M Judgment in Sexual Assault Case Against Sean “Diddy” Combs

A Michigan man, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, has won a $100 million judgment against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs after Combs failed to contest allegations of sexual assault in court. The Lenawee County Circuit Court in Michigan awarded the judgment after Combs did not respond to the lawsuit.

The Allegations
Cardello-Smith, 51, filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting him during a 1997 party in Detroit. At the time, Cardello-Smith was working in the restaurant and hospitality industry and alleged that the assault was part of a broader pattern of misconduct by the rapper and businessman. The allegations also included other instances of sexual abuse by Combs, who has previously faced similar claims.

According to the Detroit Metro Times, Cardello-Smith provided evidence of Combs’s name appearing in a prison visitation log and testified that Combs had offered him $2.3 million to drop the lawsuit. Cardello-Smith rejected the offer, leading the case to move forward.

Combs Fails to Respond
At a virtual hearing on August 7, Cardello-Smith testified that Combs, now 54, refused to contest the claims, reportedly saying, “You know how we get down.” Judge Anna Marie Anzalone then ordered Combs to refrain from selling assets to cover potential damages.

When Combs failed to appear at a subsequent virtual hearing, Judge Anzalone awarded Cardello-Smith a default judgment of $100 million. The judgment was granted because Combs did not defend himself in the case.

History of Legal Battles
Cardello-Smith is currently incarcerated at Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility has a history of filing lawsuits and teaching himself legal strategies while in prison. His lawsuit against Combs is not his first involving prominent defendants. He has also sued the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, alleging sexual abuse by two priests and a lay employee between 1979 and 1993.

Combs’s Legal Troubles
This judgment adds to a growing list of legal challenges for Combs, who has been accused of sexual assaults, rape, and even the distribution of “revenge porn.” Earlier this year, hotel security footage surfaced showing Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie Ventura in 2016—a video that contradicted his earlier denials of violence. Combs settled Ventura’s lawsuit quickly after she accused him of rape and physical abuse, though the financial terms were not disclosed. This $100 million judgment further underscores Combs’s severe legal issues.

Additionally, Combs’s Los Angeles and Miami properties were raided in March as part of a federal sex-trafficking investigation. While no charges have been filed, media reports indicated that Combs has since listed his Los Angeles property for $61.5 million.

Uncertain Future for $100M Judgment
Given the complexity of collecting judgments from high-profile defendants, it remains unclear how Cardello-Smith will collect the $100 million awarded. However, the ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding Combs, potentially setting a precedent for future cases against influential figures in the entertainment industry.

As this case unfolds, it highlights the ongoing challenges individuals face in pursuing justice against influential figures in the entertainment world.