Why Did Judge Dismiss Dawn Richard's Explosive Lawsuit Against Sean 'Diddy' Combs?

A U.S. District Judge in New York has dismissed a lawsuit by a member of former girl group Danity Kane against Sean "Diddy" Combs

NEED TO KNOW

• A U.S. District Judge in New York has dismissed a lawsuit by a member of former girl group Danity Kane against Sean “Diddy” Combs
• Judge Katherine Polk Failla threw out the bulk of musician Dawn Richard’s claims of emotional abuse and manipulation because the statutes of limitations had expired
• Combs, who is currently incarcerated, was found guilty in 2025 on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution

A U.S. District Judge in New York has dismissed a lawsuit by a member of former girl group Danity Kane against Sean “Diddy” Combs.

In a ruling on Friday, June 12, Judge Katherine Polk Failla threw out the bulk of musician Dawn Richard’s claims of emotional abuse and manipulation because the statutes of limitations had expired.

“Mr. Combs’s conduct for which Plaintiff sues — while indisputably odious — ceased in 2011 or 2012,” the judge wrote in the ruling obtained by PEOPLE. “Plaintiff does not allege that Mr. Combs committed any tortious conduct against her again in the 12 or 13 years before she filed suit.”

Richard, who rose to fame as a member of the Combs-formed girl group Danity Kane, filed 18 claims against Combs, who has been incarcerated since September 2024 and was found guilty in 2025 on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

The claims included allegations of assault, battery, employment discrimination and intentional infliction of emotional distress, along with copyright infringement.

The abuse allegedly occurred while Richard was a member of Danity Kane and later with the group known as Diddy-Dirty Money, both of which were assembled by Combs on MTV's Making the Band.

"Plaintiff alleges that her approximately eight-year association with Mr. Combs across these two groups was suffused with abuse, manipulation, and violence," the judge wrote in the ruling.

In the lawsuit, Richard claimed she witnessed the rapper physically assaulting multiple women and experienced "aggressive and hostile behavior" from Combs — including "disparaging gender-based remarks" toward Danity Kane members and comments about Richard's physical appearance, PEOPLE previously reported.

Richard also alleged that Combs "deprived" the Danity Kane women "of basic needs such as adequate food and sleep" during seasons 3 and 4 of Making the Band and displayed "demeaning behavior," which led Richard to experience "growing feelings of insecurity and fear of reprisal."

During her time with Diddy-Dirty Money, which was formed a few months after Danity Kane broke up in January 2009, Richard alleged she experienced similar grueling working conditions, including food and sleep deprivation.

According to the lawsuit, Richard faced sexual harassment and assault from Combs on numerous occasions. He allegedly ordered her to "strip down to her underwear," made sexually charged comments and groped her buttocks and breasts in professional settings.

The complaint further alleged she never received compensation for her credits on songs in which she contributed for Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money. She also claimed she was never paid for a scrapped reboot of Making the Band or a collaboration for Combs' The Love Album in 2023.

However, one of Richard’s claims, which alleged Combs violated New Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, was dismissed without prejudice, which means the musician can refile that claim in state court.

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"We are encouraged and look forward to pursuing our primary claim filed under the gender motivated violence act in State Court in NYC, per the judge’s decision,” Richard’s attorney Arick Fudali said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “We intend to continue to fight for Dawn until justice is achieved."

A representative for Combs could not be reached for comment.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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