In a recent surge of legal actions, a fresh wave of sexual assault claims has been filed against prominent figures, including Sean Combs (known as ‘Diddy’), Jamie Foxx, Axl Rose, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. These suits have been submitted under the New York Adult Survivors Act, a law that created a one-year window for filing sexual assault claims that were otherwise too old to litigate.
One of the lawsuits, filed by Joi Dickerson-Neal, alleges that she was “drugged, sexually assaulted, and abused” by Sean Combs in 1992. The rapper, also known as ‘Puff Daddy,’ is accused of filming and distributing the acts as “revenge porn.” Dickerson-Neal is seeking a jury trial and compensation.
Another complaint, filed by an anonymous ‘Jane Doe,’ accuses Combs and music collaborator Aaron Hall of raping her during a party in 1990 or 1991, as reported by Rolling Stone magazine. The court filing, unfortunately, was not accessible on the New York court’s website due to corrections needed.
These claims come in the wake of last week’s settlement between Combs and R&B singer Cassie, who accused him of over a decade of coercion through physical force and drugs, including an alleged rape in 2018. The parties announced an amicable resolution without disclosing the settlement terms.
The Adult Survivors Act also targeted former US president Donald Trump, who was sued by former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll. In May, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, awarding Carroll $2 million and nearly $3 million for defamation.
The wave of lawsuits under the Adult Survivors Act highlights the legal repercussions faced by high-profile individuals as survivors seize the opportunity provided by the legislation’s one-year window for addressing past sexual assault claims.