Jay-Z Teen Accuser Can Remain Anonymous in Sexual Assault Case

Jay-Z was hit with a warning in his fight against a Jane Doe’s sexual assault lawsuit, as a judge ruled the woman can proceed anonymously and blasted the rapper’s lawyer for “relentless filing of combative motions.” 

The Roc Nation founder, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has vehemently denied the claims from the Jane Doe accuser, who alleges she was 13 years old when Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs raped her during a VMAs afterparty in 2000. The woman filed her lawsuit in October, adding Carter’s name to the complaint on Dec. 8. (Combs’ lawyers similarly denied the woman’s claims, saying the Bad Boy founder has “never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.”) 

Carter has since launched into action, suing the woman’s lawyer Tony Buzbee for extortion and defamation in California and issuing several statements denying the women’s “heinous” accusations. His high-powered legal team have filed numerous motions with the court, requesting for the woman’s identity to be made public and even an outright dismissal of the case. After the woman’s interview with NBC where she admitted to making “some mistakes” in regards to aspects of her story, Carter’s attorney Alex Spiro sought an expedited hearing on the matter, arguing that her “stunning revelations make clear that the complaint … had no factual basis whatsoever.”

But in a ruling on Thursday, Judge Analisa Torres ruled the woman can proceed anonymously in the case, according to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone. Judge Torres noted that “the weight of the factors” — such as the “highly sensitive and extremely personal” nature of the claim — “tips in favor of allowing Plaintiff to remain anonymous, at least for this stage of the litigation.” Still, Judge Torres noted that she will revisit this decision as the case progresses. 

Taking aim at Carter’s attorney, Judge Torres said the “relentless filing of combative motions containing inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks [on Buzbee] is inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client. The Court will not fast-track the judicial process merely because counsel demands it.”

Reps for Carter did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.

While Carter’s team fights to dismiss the woman’s case in New York, there is a growing war between the mogul and Buzbee, who claims to represent more than 120 alleged victims against Combs. After Carter sued Buzbee in November, Buzbee filed his own lawsuit against Roc Nation last week, accusing the company and its lawyers of using “shadowy operatives” and promising paydays to illegally entice former Buzbee clients into filing “frivolous” claims against him. 

Roc Nation quickly denied the accusation, calling the lawsuit “baloney” and a “pathetic attempt to distract and deflect attention” from the case. “Mr. Carter is not someone who can be intimidated,” Carter’s lawyers said.