Jay-Z is suing Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee for defamation.
(Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images) / (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The legal battle over a now dismissed sexual assault lawsuit between Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee has taken a new turn. Jay-Z’s defamation lawsuit against Buzbee is now headed to trial after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark H. Epstein ruled Jay-Z’s suit had enough merit.
According to the judge’s ruling, Buzbee’s actions, especially his public remarks and social media posts, could be considered defamatory, raising a legal issue that calls for a trial.
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Epstein cited Buzbee referring to the accuser as a “sexual assault survivor” in a social media post, ignoring the lack of substantial evidence, as well as liking social media posts implying Jay-Z was the unnamed defendant before the Brooklyn rapper was officially named in the suit.
“The conduct alleged raises serious questions about whether Buzbee acted with actual malice, a key component in defamation cases involving public figures,” the judge noted in his ruling.
In December, an unnamed woman represented by Buzbee added Jay-Z’s name to a lawsuit she had filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs in a federal court in Manhattan. The lawsuit claimed that the music mogul had attacked her in 2000 after Combs’ limo driver offered to bring her to an after-party for the MTV Video Music Awards.
Buzbee’s firm has filed several lawsuits against Combs. Buzbee’s lawsuits allege that his clients were abused at parties in New York, California and Florida, where he says they were drugged with sedative-laced drinks.
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Jay-Z initially revealed on social media that Buzbee had sued him, rejecting the accusations and questioning Buzbee’s credibility. In response, Jay-Z filed a lawsuit against the Houston lawyer after Buzbee sent a letter requesting mediation. Buzbee refiled his lawsuit, leading Jay-Z to describe it as a “blackmail attempt” and to characterize Buzbee as a “deplorable human.”
A legal tug-of-war ensued until Feb. 14, when the unnamed woman, who Buzbee represented, retracted her civil lawsuit against both men, as noted in court documents. The filing did not include any rationale or explanation for the withdrawal, which the woman’s lawyers submitted to indicate a voluntary dismissal.
Jay-Z responded to the dismissal, saying, “The frivolous, fictitious, and appalling allegations have been dismissed.”
Now, Jay-Z’s defamation case is moving forward due to Buzbee’s behavior outside of the courtroom.
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Buzbee is an eccentric legal personality and has quite the reputation in Houston. He has represented a slew of high-profile cases, including representing more than two dozen women who accused former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and battery. Buzbee has a good track record regarding his high-profile cases, usually coming out victorious, but that trend is being tested in his battle with Jay-Z.
Additionally, Epstein indicated that the music mogul’s second extortion claim against Buzbee is in jeopardy. Jay-Z accused Buzbee of attempting to coerce him into accepting a financial settlement by threatening to sue if he refused. The judge remarked that Jay-Z’s allegations of extortion against Buzbee most likely fail to satisfy the legal criteria for extortion, which necessitates a more serious threat than merely the possibility of a lawsuit.
Jay-Z’s defamation lawsuit seeks to determine whether Buzbee’s legal tactics damaged his reputation and whether there was enough damage to warrant financial restitution. The next hearing in the legal battle between Jay-Z and Buzbee is on March 26.
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