Jay-Z’s legal team has been granted a request to file for dismissal of a rape lawsuit.
The 55-year-old rapper has been accused of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl, known as Jane Doe, at an MTV Video Music Awards after party in 2000 with Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Jay-Z - real name Shawn Carter - and Combs have denied the “heinous” allegations.
On Thursday, Judge Analisa Torres of the Southern District of New York granted Jay-Z’s attorney Alex Spiro’s request to enter a dismissal motion in the lawsuit.
“Carter’s request to file a motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s amended complaint is GRANTED,” it was revealed in court documents shared on X by legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff.
Spiro had argued that the Alabama woman’s lawsuit was too old to pursue, in a December 30 letter to Judge Torres.
He said Jay-Z’s accuser cannot sue the rapper under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act law because it only came into effect after she alleges she was assaulted.
He pointed out that the GMV law was introduced in December 2000 - three months after the alleged rape in September 2000.
Spiro also argued that Jane Doe’s claim she was driven to the party in a 20-minute limousine ride means the alleged incident not happen in New York City, a statement which invalidates the lawsuit.
Tony Buzbee, who is the lawyer representing Jay-Z’s accuser, told TMZ earlier this week: “These are technical arguments being made and the law is clearly on our side and the side of alleged victims.
“The law is well settled that we are correct.”
Buzbee has objected to the ruling in Jay-Z’s favour. The rapper has until March 14 to “file his reply, if any.”
Jane Doe claimed she befriended a limo driver outside the MTV Music Awards ceremony who drove her to the after party where she was allegedly raped.
She alleged that she fled the party after the alleged rape and called her father from a nearby gas station to pick her up.
Her father has said he does not remember driving from Rochester to pick her up in New York City.
Jay-Z called the allegations “idiotic” in a lengthy statement to NBC News.
He added: "These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?”
