California Court Rejects Jay-Z's Bid to Sue Attorney Over Dropped Rape Accusation
A California appeals court ruled that Jay-Z cannot pursue extortion or defamation claims against lawyer Tony Buzbee, who had accused the rapper of raping a minor in a 2024 lawsuit that was later dropped. The court found no evidence that Buzbee made the accusations knowing they were false or with reckless disregard for the truth. Buzbee responded that he had always believed in the validity of the claims.
The appellate panel upheld a prior decision to exclude a recorded interview where the accuser allegedly recanted, noting she may have felt pressured by private investigators who promised anonymity in exchange for cooperation. This evidentiary ruling proved pivotal, as the court found no proof Buzbee acted with malicious intent.
Buzbee, who has filed numerous abuse cases against Diddy, now seeks reimbursement for his legal expenses. Jay-Z had originally framed the accusation as a blackmail scheme, but the court determined the lawyer's pre-filing investigation supported his subjective belief in the claim's validity.
This ruling could shape how celebrities pursue legal recourse against accusers' attorneys, potentially discouraging aggressive counter-suits when initial claims lack proven malice. It may also influence how courts treat recanted testimony, particularly when investigators employ coercive tactics. Both plaintiffs' lawyers and high-profile defendants could see shifts in strategy regarding evidence admissibility and the threshold for proving reckless disregard in defamation cases.