Photo Credit: Colin Lloyd
The attorney who filed one of the several sexual abuse lawsuits against Diddy is facing serious professional conduct allegations after a federal judge criticized him for filing suits to ‘embarrass defendants’ with ‘salacious allegations’ and ‘garner media attention.’
Tyrone Blackburn, the lead attorney representing producer Rodney Jones in a sexual abuse lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, is getting raked over the coals as a federal judge in another case criticized him for filing lawsuits with “salacious allegations” to “embarrass defendants.” Judge Denise Cote cited Blackburn’s conduct in five different lawsuits, citing what she called “glaring deficiencies” in each of those cases.
Judge Cote filed an order in a legal malpractice lawsuit Blackburn filed last year, and referred him to the grievance committee for the Southern District of New York for “such action as it deems appropriate,” calling his submissions to the court “rife with disturbing allegations” to “garner media attention” and “pressure defendants to settle quickly.”
“Not sure how this is at all relevant to Rodney Jones’ case, or any other case I have,” said Blackburn in an email to Billboard on April 4. “This will not have any impact on my ability to proceed in Mr. Jones’ case. Although Judge Cote’s decision was a referral to the SDNY’s grievance committee, and not a sanction, I plan on appealing the decision.”
Nevertheless, attorneys for Universal Music Group has been quick to jump in following Judge Cote’s ruling, pointing out that Jones’ lawsuit incorrectly names several prominent industry figures as members of Combs’ coterie — specifically, UMG CEO Lucian Grainge and former Motown CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam.
This, they argue, violates federal Rule 11, which requires attorneys to make a “reasonable inquiry” into allegations they file. Judge Cote also cited Rule 11 in her ruling against Blackburn.
Attorneys for Grainge (and Combs) have vehemently denied all allegations.
It remains unclear how long a case against Blackburn by the grievance committee would take, or what disciplinary action would be taken. Regardless, shots aimed at Blackburn’s credibility could significantly alter the trajectory of Jones’ lawsuit against Combs.
