Rapper Jay-Z has filed a motion requesting legal sanctions against attorney Tony Buzbee, accusing him of filing a baseless r*pe lawsuit that has caused significant harm to his reputation.
In the motion, submitted by Jay-Z’s lawyer Alex Spiro, the rapper alleges that Buzbee failed to conduct even basic fact-checking before filing the suit. The case accuses Jay-Z and fellow artist Diddy of drugging and r*ping a 13-year-old girl after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.
Spiro’s filing highlights inconsistencies in the accuser’s account, including her claim that the alleged assault occurred at “a large white residence with a gated U-shaped driveway” about 20 minutes from the awards show. Jay-Z’s team counters this by pointing to photographs showing him at Lotus nightclub in Manhattan after the event.
The motion also questions the accuser’s claim that her father picked her up after the alleged assault, noting the logistical improbability of a 10-hour round trip. The father reportedly has no memory of such an event.
Additionally, the accuser stated she watched the VMAs on a Jumbotron outside Radio City Music Hall, but Jay-Z’s team argues no such screen was present, as MTV’s request to install one had been denied by the city.
The lawsuit further claims the accuser spoke with Benji Madden at the afterparty. However, Madden’s representative told NBC News he was not in New York City during the 2000 VMAs, as his band, Good Charlotte, was on tour in the Midwest.
Jay-Z’s legal team argues these discrepancies could have been uncovered with minimal investigation, and they accuse Buzbee of recklessly pursuing the case without verifying its claims. Spiro contends this conduct warrants court sanctions.
In response, Buzbee dismissed the motion, stating, “With each frantic filing, Mr. Spiro’s team reeks of desperation. They think the laws and rules don’t apply to them and try to intimidate counsel with meritless pleadings. We won’t be bullied or intimidated, ever.”
