Diddy's Lawyers Quit $100M Suit Over Unpaid Fees
Diddy's Lawyers Quit $100M Suit Over Unpaid Fees
The News
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been dropped by the lawyers running his $100 million defamation lawsuit, who told a federal court he has not paid them in more than six months.
Attorneys Michael Tremonte, Erica Wolff and Katie Renzler of the New York firm Sher Tremonte LLP filed a motion Monday in the Southern District of New York asking to withdraw as Combs' counsel.
They cited unpaid bills and what Billboard described as a "total breakdown in cooperation" with their client, who is serving a 50-month federal sentence.
Combs tells a different story: he says he cut the firm loose because it overcharged him.
The Numbers
More than six months since Combs last paid the firm. More than four months since he made himself available for direct communication about the case. $100 million in damages sought — double his original claim.
Timeline
Combs files a $50 million defamation suit against Courtney Burgess, attorney Ariel Mitchell and Nexstar Media Inc., alleging false claims caused severe damage to his reputation. He later amends the complaint to seek $100 million.
Combs is convicted in federal court on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution and sentenced to 50 months.
A judge denies a motion to dismiss the defamation case, keeping it alive.
Sher Tremonte files its motion to withdraw, telling the court representation has become "unreasonably difficult." No replacement counsel is named in the filing.
Reactions
Writing for the firm, Tremonte asked the court to "grant the instant motion to withdraw," according to court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail.
Combs' camp told TMZ the lawyers were simply overcharging him and that he fired them. Tremonte says that account is false — the firm moved to withdraw because Combs stopped paying and stopped responding.
Jonathan Davis, a civil litigator with 33 years of experience who handles other matters for Combs, says he has had no cooperation problems with his client.
What's Next
The court has to rule on the withdrawal motion before the defamation case can move forward. If the judge signs off, Combs is left without counsel in the suit and will need to find replacement lawyers while incarcerated.
Unanswered so far: how much money is actually in dispute, and whether anyone has sought an independent review of the firm's billing.
More
The underlying lawsuit targets reporting and allegations that Combs used drug-laced baby oil to incapacitate sexual assault victims — claims aired by Nexstar Media, which he sued along with Burgess and Mitchell. The Sept. 4 ruling means those claims will be litigated rather than tossed.
Poll
Should the judge let Combs' lawyers walk away mid-case?
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