Sean “Diddy” Combs must pay $100 million in a sexual assault case

Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty of sexual assault and ordered to pay $100 million in damages.

The ruling came Monday after Combs failed to respond to a lawsuit filed by inmate Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who had obtained a restraining order against the hip-hop mogul last month, according to TMZ.

Cardello-Smith accused Combs of sexual assault in connection with a 1997 party in Detroit. He claimed the rapper offered him a drugged drink and later attacked him. The inmate claimed Combs made inappropriate advances toward him and filed the lawsuit while serving his sentence in prison.

When Combs missed the scheduled court hearing, Lenawee County District Court Judge Anna Marie Anzalone awarded Cardello-Smith the full $100 million he had demanded. Combs will reportedly begin a payment plan of $10 million per month starting October 1.

However, Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo vehemently denied the allegations and said: Page Six“[Cardello-Smith] is a convicted felon and sex offender… Mr. Combs has never heard of him, let alone been served with a lawsuit.”

This ruling came amid other legal troubles for Combs, including a high-profile lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in November 2023. Although the lawsuit was settled within a day, Combs was sued by several other plaintiffs for sexual assault.