Jay-Z Seeks Sanctions Against Attorney in Sexual Assault Lawsuit Over Alleged Misconduct

Photograph by Mason Poole. Courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, calling the allegations "false and defamatory" and seeking sanctions against the plaintiff's attorney, Tony Buzbee, for purported ethical violations.

In the motion submitted Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Carter’s legal team argued that the lawsuit, filed by an anonymous Jane Doe, is riddled with inconsistencies and lacks evidentiary support. The filing asserts that Buzbee failed to conduct basic due diligence, including verifying key elements of the plaintiff’s claims, before filing the complaint.

“The allegations in this case strain the outer bounds of credulity and demonstrate a failure to meet the basic ethical obligations required of any attorney,” Alex Spiro, Jay-Z's attorney, wrote in the filing. “This lawsuit is not only baseless but also deeply damaging to Mr. Carter’s reputation and family.”

The complaint alleges that Jane Doe was assaulted at a 2000 afterparty hosted by music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs following the MTV Video Music Awards. Doe claimed Carter and an unnamed female celebrity were involved. However, Carter’s legal team pointed to photographic and video evidence showing that he was at a nightclub on the night in question, not the private residence described in the lawsuit.

The motion further notes discrepancies in Doe’s account, including her claim that she spoke to a musician at the party who, records show, was performing in another state that evening. Additionally, Doe’s father, identified as a key witness in the lawsuit, reportedly told NBC News he had no recollection of driving her from New York City back to their home in Rochester, a critical detail in her narrative.

The motion also criticized Buzbee for allegedly using the case to generate publicity, including setting up a hotline soliciting potential plaintiffs against Combs shortly after Combs was indicted on unrelated charges in September 2024. Carter’s lawyers allege that the lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of rushed filings and unsubstantiated claims.

Buzbee has not withdrawn the complaint despite public reporting undermining its allegations, the motion states. Carter's attorneys are seeking monetary sanctions against Buzbee and a dismissal of the case with prejudice.

Buzbee has not responded to requests for comment. In prior statements, he defended his handling of the case and said his firm is continuing to investigate the claims.

The court has not yet ruled on the motion.