According to Billboard, Tyrone A. Blackburn, the lawyer who brought one of the well-known sexual abuse cases against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, is currently being investigated for possible disciplinary action.
This follows a federal judge’s criticism of Blackburn’s lawsuit strategy, which suggested the goal is to create publicity for the company and “embarrass defendants” rather than pursue justice.
Judge Denise Cote exposed Blackburn’s alleged dubious legal tactics in five cases while supervising a different legal malpractice case that the company had filed. Judge Cote stated that Blackburn’s filing pattern appeared to garner media attention, humiliate the defendants with dramatic allegations, and put pressure on them to make speedy settlements.
Even though Judge Cote did not issue a penalty, she forwarded Blackburn’s case to the grievance committee of the Southern District of New York and suggested an additional investigation. This information comes to light in the context of Blackburn’s continued representation of Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones in a thorough abuse lawsuit brought against Combs in February.
Combs has fiercely denied all charges, despite being the target of multiple similar accusations and a recent federal criminal investigation.
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Unfazed by the judge’s remarks, Blackburn maintained that he would continue representing Jones and even planned to appeal Judge Cote’s ruling.
In addition to charging Combs and others with violating federal RICO statutes, which are typically linked to the prosecution of organized crime, Jones has accused Combs of sexual assault and harassment in a lawsuit. Blackburn’s aggressive legal approach has already drawn criticism, as Combs’ defense and Universal Music Group representatives have questioned the veracity of Blackburn’s claims and threatened legal action over what they perceive to be unfounded accusations.
The ruling by Judge Cote confirms worries about Blackburn’s legal behavior, which includes bringing lawsuits in improper forums and making baseless public charges against defendants and their attorneys. The grievance committee is currently debating Blackburn’s future in the legal field, and the outcome of this process is still up in the air. The legal community is keeping a close eye on this process.
Meanwhile, Combs is still facing legal challenges, and all sides are preparing for a hard courtroom showdown.