by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 17 – In May 2024 Crystal McKinney sued Sean Combs for sexual assault under the NYC Gender Motivated Violence in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The suit recounts Combs inviting McKinney to Cipriani Downtown - in 2003 - then to his studio on West 44th Street where he drugged and assaulted her, according to the complaint.
On September 24, 2024, after Combs' arrest and detention in the MDC, Thalia Graves sued Combs and others alleging a 2001 rape, complaint on Patreon here.
On December 30, Graves' lawyer wrote it seeking to dismissed the corporate defendants, noting that "the remaining defendants, Defendants Sean Combs and Joseph Sherman, both consent to the dismissal of the Corporate Defendants." Filing on Patreon here.
On January 3 Judge Torres ordered that the amended complaint be filed on or before January 17.
It was - and on February 7 Combs' lawyers wrote in seeking a pre-motion conference to discuss a motion to dismiss as untimely, citing a dismissed case against the also detained Alexander brothers. Filing on Patreon here
Jump cut to June 4, when Sherman's defamation claims against Graves and her lawyer were dismissed - and some sanctions ordered - by Judge Torres. Order on Patreon here
Jump again to July 17, when Judge Torres granted defendants' motion to stay the case: "The Court finds that judicial economy counsels in favor of a stay and that to proceed at this juncture risks wasting judicial and party resources. Defendants'request for a stay pending the Second Circuit's resolution of the appeals in Parker v. Alexander, No. 25-487 (2d Cir.), and Doe v. Black, No. 25-564 (2d Cir.), is, therefore, GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to STAY all hearings, deadlines, and motions in this matter pending further order of the Court. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Analisa Torres on 7/17/2025)." Letter and order on Patreon here
This case is Sherman v. Graves, et al., 1:24-cr-8494 (Torres)
Inner City Press is covering the Combs cases. The ongoing civil case is Graves v. Combs, et al., 1:24-cv-7201 (Torres)
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