If you thought Sean “Diddy” Combs was catching a legal break, you’d be partly right — but the storm clouds haven’t completely cleared.
In a major courtroom move this week, U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff permanently tossed out almost all of a hefty $60 million lawsuit filed earlier this year by Sara Rivers, better known to MTV fans as Sara Stokes from Making the Band 2. Rivers, who once stood center stage in Diddy’s Bad Boy Records group Da Band, accused the music mogul of sexual assault, harassment, and a laundry list of other misconduct from the early 2000s.
But here’s where it gets interesting: out of the 22 different claims she made in her sprawling 148-page filing, 21 are now gone for good. The judge dismissed them “finally and with prejudice,” meaning they can’t be refiled. The only surviving claim — for now — is tied to New York City’s Gender Motivated Violence Protection Act (GMVPA), and even that is hanging by a thread.
Why the last claim is in limbo
Judge Rakoff is waiting on an appeals court to decide whether the GMVPA claim-revival window can stay open after a statewide law — the Adult Survivors Act — closed its own temporary window for filing old sexual misconduct cases. The legal back-and-forth could determine if that last remaining claim moves forward or disappears like the rest.
Rivers’ GMVPA claim accuses Combs of cornering her in his recording studio, sexually assaulting her, and then blackballing her from the music industry when she refused to give in to his advances. If the appeals court rules against her, that final piece of the lawsuit could also vanish.
The defense’s victory lap
Naturally, Combs’ legal team wasted no time declaring the court’s ruling a win. His civil attorney, Erica Wolff, was blunt:
“From the outset, we have said these claims were meritless, time-barred, and legally deficient. The court agreed, finding no legal basis to allow them to proceed. We are pleased the court carefully analyzed and swiftly dismissed these baseless claims.”
That “time-barred” comment is key — the judge agreed with the defense that most of Rivers’ claims were filed way too late under the statute of limitations. Several of her allegations also revolved around workplace-related violations, which were subject to even tighter filing deadlines.
A look back at Rivers’ claims
Rivers’ lawsuit painted a picture of an extremely toxic environment during the filming of Making the Band 2 in 2002. Some of the more memorable accusations included:
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Combs allegedly controlling her sleeping schedule.
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Mocking her eating disorder in front of others.
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Yelling at her and forcing her to perform menial manual labor without pay.
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And, yes, the infamous cheesecake incident — where Combs reportedly made her and her bandmates walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn just to bring him a single cheesecake.
The lawsuit also claimed Combs inappropriately touched her, including stroking her breasts during production. According to Rivers, the alleged mistreatment went beyond TV drama and left lasting professional and personal damage.
Where Rivers stands now
So far, Rivers and her legal team haven’t responded publicly to the dismissal. Her attorney, Ariel Mitchell, stayed silent when reporters reached out for comment. Whether or not the GMVPA claim survives will depend entirely on that pending appeals court ruling.
For Rivers, this isn’t just a lawsuit — it’s part of a years-long fight to tell her side of the story. She’s maintained that her career suffered because she resisted Combs’ alleged advances, and that the music industry effectively shut its doors on her afterward.
The bigger picture for Combs
Even with this legal victory, Diddy’s plate is far from clear. He’s still staring down dozens of other civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct, all while sitting in federal custody. And there’s an even bigger date on his calendar — October 3, when he’s scheduled for sentencing.
Just last month, an eight-week trial wrapped in New York with a split verdict:
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Guilty on two counts of violating the Mann Act, which covers the transportation of individuals to engage in prostitution.
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Not guilty on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.
The Mann Act convictions alone carry serious consequences, and the October sentencing could seal Combs’ fate for years to come.
Why this matters beyond the courtroom
This isn’t just about one lawsuit or one celebrity. It’s a snapshot of how complex — and slow-moving — high-profile legal battles can be. Between overlapping state and city laws, statute of limitations debates, and the sheer weight of celebrity influence, cases like these rarely follow a straight line.
It also raises questions about how the music industry treated young artists, especially women, in the reality-TV boom era of the early 2000s. Allegations like Rivers’ — whether dismissed or not — spark broader conversations about power dynamics, exploitation, and the blurred lines between entertainment and abuse.
What’s next?
For now, all eyes are on the appeals court. If it rules in Rivers’ favor, that last remaining claim against Combs could go forward, keeping a small piece of this legal fight alive. If not, her entire lawsuit will be officially dead.
And then there’s the elephant in the room — the other lawsuits. Even if Rivers’ case closes completely, Combs still has a mountain of legal problems to climb. With multiple accusers, overlapping jurisdictions, and criminal sentencing ahead, the road ahead isn’t exactly smooth.
Key Takeaways from This Week’s Legal Twist:
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21 out of 22 claims dismissed with prejudice in Rivers’ $60 million suit against Combs.
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Only one claim — under NYC’s GMVPA — remains pending, awaiting an appeals court ruling.
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Dismissal was largely due to statute of limitations issues.
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Combs still faces multiple other lawsuits and an October sentencing date.
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Rivers’ lawsuit spotlighted alleged mistreatment during the Making the Band 2 era, including the now-legendary cheesecake walk.
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