A federal judge has granted an extension in a civil lawsuit against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, allowing attorneys additional time to investigate newly presented evidence. The lawsuit, filed by California resident Ashley Parham, accuses Combs and members of his entourage of gang-raping her in March 2018.
According to court documents obtained by Fox KTVU, U.S. District Court Judge Rita Lin of Northern California approved the extension on Thursday, pushing the deadline to serve the lawsuit from Feb. 14 to March 7. Parham’s attorney, Ariel Mitchell, argued that verifying the newly surfaced allegations has required more time.
Combs, who is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on unrelated sex trafficking charges, has denied all allegations against him.
Allegations Against Combs and Legal Battle
Parham’s lawsuit accuses Combs and others of sexually assaulting her at an apartment in Orinda, California, in March 2018. She alleges that the attack was orchestrated as retaliation after she previously accused Combs of being involved in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.
Court filings state that Parham first encountered Combs via FaceTime in February 2018 through a mutual acquaintance. A month later, she claims she was lured to an apartment where Combs allegedly pulled a knife on her before raping her alongside at least one other accomplice. The lawsuit also names Kristina Khorram, a former executive at Combs Enterprises, as a co-defendant, accusing her of assisting in the attack and its cover-up.
Parham is seeking $50 million in damages and has requested a jury trial.
Combs Faces Multiple Legal Battles
In addition to Parham’s lawsuit, Combs is facing over 20 sexual abuse lawsuits across the country. His attorneys maintain that these claims are baseless, stating that media coverage of the allegations risks compromising his right to a fair trial.
A report from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office previously labeled Parham’s claims as “unfounded.” However, the judge’s decision to grant an extension suggests that new information may impact the case moving forward.
Meanwhile, Combs remains in federal custody awaiting trial on separate criminal sex trafficking charges. He has pleaded not guilty to those allegations.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.