Lawyers wey dey represent Sean “Diddy” Combs don move to drop the rapper and music executive as client inside him $100 million defamation lawsuit. Michael Tremonte, wey be partner for Sher Tremonte LLP, tok say Combs, 56, “has not paid a substantial balance of attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses,” according to declaration wey ask make dem withdraw as counsel. Dem file the declaration on Monday for Southern District of New York.
Tremonte tok inside filing say Combs dey more than six months behind on fees. He also tok say “a total breakdown in cooperation and communication between Mr. Combs and the Firm” don happen. Combs “declined to make himself available for timely, substantive, and direct communications about his cases for over four months,” the filing tok.
The filing add say “The Firm’s representation has been rendered unreasonably difficult by Mr. Combs’s lack of cooperation, resulting in a breakdown in attorney-client communications and rendering Sher Tremonte incapable of continuing to provide effective legal services to Mr. Combs.” Tremonte na the lawyer wey dey defend Combs for civil litigation, including the $100 million defamation lawsuit against Courtney Burgess, Ariel Mitchell and Nexstar Media Inc. He no represent Combs for him criminal trial for New York City last year.
But Combs no agree with that story. Through him spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, Combs tok say the split na him decision. “I made the decision to switch lawyers because I won’t let anyone take advantage of me by overcharging me and running up bills that were never approved,” he tok. “This is strictly a business matter, and any talk about unpaid fees is just part of our dispute over those unapproved charges.”
Tremonte push back inside email. He write say him firm “represented Mr. Combs zealously and very efficiently under challenging circumstances.” He still tok say, “As stated in our court filings, we are withdrawing from representing him because he has not paid his long-overdue invoices and has become uncooperative.” He add: “Any suggestion that we overcharged him is simply false.”
Court motion wey Tremonte file ask federal judge make e allow the firm withdraw from the case. Dem never grant the request, meaning say the lawyers don ask to leave but dem remain counsel until court approve. The filing no reveal how much money dem allege say Combs owe.
The timing of the move dey striking. The withdrawal request reportedly land only days after a judge give Combs partial victory by allowing parts of him defamation case against Nexstar Media and attorney Ariel Mitchell to continue. Combs originally sue Mitchell, music manager Courtney Burgess and NewsNation operator Nexstar Media in January 2025 over claims say Burgess get videos wey allegedly show the rapper with celebrities and minors. Combs deny those allegations and accuse the defendants of knowingly spreading false information. The lawsuit first seek $50 million before dem increase am to $100 million.
Meanwhile, Combs dey serve 50-month sentence for New Jersey federal prison on two interstate prostitution convictions wey come from that case, though another report talk say na two counts of transportation for prostitution. Prosecutors bin seek 11 years. Dem acquit am of the more serious charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, and he don maintain say he no do anything. He plead not guilty to all counts. Federal Bureau of Prisons records put him release for May 8, 2028, though e fit come sooner with good behavior. Another report put the release date as February 5, 2028. In July, Combs move go solitary confinement after fight with another inmate, according to source wey sabi the matter wey tell NBC News.
