Sean “P. Diddy” Combs has recently made headlines worldwide after his arrest and indictment on sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and other federal charges. His name has been in the news for the past year, following law enforcement raids on his Los Angeles home, leading to his current legal situation, which includes federal criminal charges and many civil sexual abuse lawsuits. Survivors of Combs’ behavior have been coming forward seeking legal advice concerning their traumatic experiences with Combs and those associated with him.
Attorney Thomas Giuffra has vast experience in these types of matters since he has represented survivors in the Harvey Weinstein sex abuse cases as well as Dr. Robert Hadden, both of which were high-profile cases involving powerful and influential men who used their positions to abuse unsuspecting men and women.
More recently, Thomas Giuffra is currently representing a number of survivors of Dr. Darius Paduch who also sexually abused scores of young men and children under the guise of providing medical care.
If you are seeking civil legal representation, Thomas Giuffra has the experience, expertise, and personal skills to handle your trauma in a confidential, caring fashion.
Our firm is currently investigating lawsuits of those who suffered abuse from Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.
Contact us for a 100% free and confidential consultation or call (212) 684-1880.
On Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, Sean Combs was charged in Manhattan Federal Court with a slew of criminal indictments.
In a Press Release from the US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Indictment, for years, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled to sexually abuse and exploit women, as well as to commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice. Today, he is charged with racketeering and sex trafficking offenses. If you have been a victim of Combs’ alleged abuse – or if you know anything about his alleged crimes – we urge you to come forward. This investigation is far from over.”
The criminal investigation of Sean Combs is expected to continue for some time.
Additionally, the charges Combs faces include the following criminal punishments [Source: Press Release, US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York]:
“COMBS, 54, of Miami, Florida, is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of transportation for purposes of prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.”
If you or a loved one would like to report a sex crime, please visit the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office resource center.
It should be known that while the criminal case against Combs will be ongoing and will serve to hold Combs accountable in criminal courts, it will not provide monetary compensation to those affected by his egregious behavior.
Sexual abuse and assault, as well as trafficking, are criminal offenses that can result in prison time or sex offender registration for the perpetrator. Victims of abuse, however, can file civil lawsuits to seek financial compensation for damages, including medical costs and emotional distress. While monetary compensation cannot undo the trauma one has endured, civil claims offer victims a way to pursue justice outside of criminal court. These claims can also hold third parties accountable if their negligence enabled the abuse or allowed it to continue through inaction, which may include the businesses Combs is associated with.
In a civil sexual assault case, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff, who must demonstrate that the assault occurred with at least 51% certainty, known as the “preponderance of the evidence.” This standard is lower than in criminal cases, where the state must prove the crime “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
A civil lawsuit can be filed even if there is no criminal conviction, as a defendant may still be held liable under the lower standard of proof used in civil court. Importantly, a successful criminal conviction can bolster the success of civil cases.
In an effort to provide additional opportunities for survivors to seek justice through civil courts, New York State and New York City have both passed legislation that alters the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse in recent years. The legislation includes the Child Victims Act, the Adult Survivors Act and the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law.
To find out if your potential case falls within any of these windows, please contact our firm with details of when the abuse occurred. Our skilled legal team will provide accurate information on your timeline. We encourage survivors to seek this free legal guidance to ensure they know pertinent deadlines.
Should a class action lawsuit against Sean Combs be filed now or in the future, we encourage survivors to learn about the differences between the two. Class actions operate by having one plaintiff file a civil lawsuit that represents multiple or many other plaintiffs.
Some important drawbacks of this may include diminished settlement values due to the generalization of trauma responses to victims and less transparency into legal strategies used in the class action civil lawsuit. You can read more about these distinctions on our blog.
Our firm advocates for individual representation in civil sexual abuse cases, ensuring each survivor’s needs and circumstances are fully considered. We encourage survivors to seek justice through personalized civil claims rather than relying on the limited benefits of class actions.
Contact us for a 100% free and confidential consultation or call (212) 684-1880.
We fight tirelessly to deliver results and we are not afraid to go to trial.
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We have the experience to handle your case all while providing individualized attention.
