Case #1:25-cv-07795 · United States District Court, Southern District of New York
Kirk Burrowes v. Sean Combs
Open
Sean Combs
Parties
Kirk Burrowes Plaintiff
Sean Combs Music producer and entrepreneur, also known as 'Diddy,' Chief Executive Officer of Bad Boy Records, resided in New York during the relevant period, currently inmate #37452-054 at Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, NY, accused of sexually assaulting and coercing Plaintiff.
Factual Allegations
Disclaimer: allegations as pled by the plaintiff, summarized by Grok.
From 1992 to 2019, Kirk Burrowes alleges Sean Combs subjected him to over a decade of sexual abuse, coercion, and violence while at Bad Boy Entertainment, Inc. in New York. Starting in 1992-1994, Combs forced Burrowes to witness sexual acts and made advances in the workplace. By 1995-1996, this escalated to physical assaults, including pinning Burrowes down and groping him. In 1996, Combs threatened Burrowes with a baseball bat to surrender his 25% stake in Bad Boy without compensation. Post-2001, Combs blacklisted Burrowes, sabotaging his career, including firing him from managing Mary J. Blige. In 2013-2014, Combs’ security threatened Burrowes in Midtown Manhattan, and in 2019, Combs assaulted and groped him at a party, reinforcing dominance.
Prayer for Relief
Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for lost wages, earnings, and monetary losses; damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, and trauma; punitive damages to punish Combs’ malicious conduct; injunctive relief to stop harassment and blacklisting; declaratory relief affirming VGMVPL violations; attorneys’ fees and costs; pre- and post-judgment interest; and other equitable relief as deemed just, all in amounts to be determined at trial.
Causes of Action
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION Violation of New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 10-1101 et seq. (Sean Combs)
Docket
| Date | No. | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2025 | 1 | NOTICE OF REMOVAL from Supreme Court, County of New York. Case Number: 152856/2025. (Filing Fee $ 405.00, Receipt Number ANYSDC-31738274).Document filed by Sean Combs. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - State Court Filings, # 2 Exhibit B - State Court Docket, # 3 Exhibit C - Plaintiff's LinkedIn Profile, # 4 Exhibit D - Prior Filing, # 5 Exhibit E - Prior Filing).(Davis, Jonathan) (Entered: 09/19/2025) | View PDF Exhibit A - State Court Filings |
| Sep 19, 2025 | 2 | CIVIL COVER SHEET filed..(Davis, Jonathan) (Entered: 09/19/2025) | No document |
| Sep 19, 2025 | 3 | STATE COURT RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO LOCAL RULE 81. Document filed by Sean Combs..(Davis, Jonathan) (Entered: 09/19/2025) | No document |
| Sep 23, 2025 | 4 | NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Jonathan David Davis on behalf of Sean Combs..(Davis, Jonathan) (Entered: 09/23/2025) | No document |
| Sep 23, 2025 | 5 | NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Colin Steelsmith on behalf of Sean Combs..(Steelsmith, Colin) (Entered: 09/23/2025) | No document |
| Sep 25, 2025 | 6 | LETTER MOTION for Conference addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Jonathan D. Davis dated September 25, 2025. Document filed by Sean Combs..(Davis, Jonathan) (Entered: 09/25/2025) | No document |
| Oct 24, 2025 | 7 | NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by David Charles Russell on behalf of Sean Combs..(Russell, David) (Entered: 10/24/2025) | No document |
| Oct 31, 2025 | 8 | ORDER granting in part and denying in part 6 Letter Motion for Conference. Defendant's request to file a motion to dismiss is GRANTED. The Court also sua sponte grants Plaintiff leave to amend the Complaint before any such motion is filed. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that by November 7, 2025 Plaintiff's counsel must file a notice of appearance. Defendant must provide Plaintiff with a copy of this Order and must file a letter representing that he has done so by November 5, 2025. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that by November 7, 2025 Plaintiff shall file a letter informing the Court and Defendant whether he intends to amend the Complaint. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if Plaintiff elects to amend, he must file the amended complaint by November 14, 2025. Plaintiff is on notice that this will be his last opportunity to amend the complaint to cure any deficiency identified in the pre-motion letter, and failure to do so will be considered a waiver. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if Plaintiff files an amended complaint, Defendant must respond within two weeks of its filing. Further briefing shall proceed on the schedule set forth in Local Civil Rule 6.1(b). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if Plaintiff elects not to amend, Defendant shall file its contemplated motion to dismiss by November 21, 2025. Further briefing shall proceed on the schedule set forth in Local Civil Rule 6.1(b). Any request for an extension must be filed at least two business days before the deadline. The parties are on notice that failure to comply with court orders, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules, and this Court's Individual Rules may result in sanctions, including: monetary sanctions on counsel and the parties themselves; preclusion of claims, defenses, evidence, and motion practice; and the case-terminating sanctions of dismissal for failure to prosecute and default judgment. The Clerk of Court respectfully is requested to terminate docket entry 6. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil on 10/31/2025) (tg) (Entered: 10/31/2025) | View PDF |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 9 | LETTER addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Jonathan D. Davis dated November 4, 2025 re: Compliance with ECF No. 8. Document filed by Sean Combs..(Steelsmith, Colin) (Entered: 11/04/2025) | No document |
| Nov 6, 2025 | 10 | NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Tyrone Anthony Blackburn on behalf of Kirk Burrowes..(Blackburn, Tyrone) (Entered: 11/06/2025) | No document |
| Nov 6, 2025 | 11 | FIRST LETTER addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Tyrone Blackburn, Esq. dated 11/6/2025 re: Defendant removed this action from the New York Supreme Court to the Southern District of New York but failed to comply with the notice and service requirements outlined in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Document filed by Kirk Burrowes..(Blackburn, Tyrone) (Entered: 11/06/2025) | View PDF |
| Nov 6, 2025 | 12 | FILING ERROR - DEFICIENT DOCKET ENTRY - FILER ERROR - (SEE #15) LETTER addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Jonathan D. Davis dated November 6, 2025 re: Plaintiff's Letter of November 6 [ECF No. 11]. Document filed by Sean Combs. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - NYSCEF Notification, # 2 Exhibit B - Email with Counsel, # 3 Exhibit C - Email with Counsel, # 4 Exhibit D - Email with Counsel, # 5 Exhibit E - Order).(Steelsmith, Colin) Modified on 11/18/2025 (kj). (Entered: 11/06/2025) | View PDF |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 13 | FIRST MOTION to Remand to State Court . Document filed by Kirk Burrowes..(Blackburn, Tyrone) (Entered: 11/10/2025) | No document |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 14 | FIRST MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 13 FIRST MOTION to Remand to State Court . . Document filed by Kirk Burrowes..(Blackburn, Tyrone) (Entered: 11/10/2025) | View PDF |
| Nov 17, 2025 | 15 | LETTER addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Jonathan D. Davis dated November 6, 2025 re: Plaintiff's Letter of November 6 [ECF No. 11]. Document filed by Sean Combs. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - NYSCEF Notification, # 2 Exhibit B - Email with Counsel, # 3 Exhibit C - Email with Counsel, # 4 Exhibit D - Email with Counsel, # 5 Exhibit E - Order).(Steelsmith, Colin) (Entered: 11/17/2025) | No document |
| Nov 19, 2025 | 16 | MOTION to Dismiss Complaint., MOTION to Strike Document No. [Portions of ECF No. 1-1] ., MOTION to Stay . Document filed by Sean Combs..(Steelsmith, Colin) (Entered: 11/19/2025) | No document |
| Nov 19, 2025 | 17 | DECLARATION of Jonathan D. Davis in Support re: 16 MOTION to Dismiss Complaint. MOTION to Strike Document No. [Portions of ECF No. 1-1] . MOTION to Stay .. Document filed by Sean Combs. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Notice of Removal).(Steelsmith, Colin) (Entered: 11/19/2025) | No document |
| Nov 19, 2025 | 18 | MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 16 MOTION to Dismiss Complaint. MOTION to Strike Document No. [Portions of ECF No. 1-1] . MOTION to Stay . . Document filed by Sean Combs..(Steelsmith, Colin) (Entered: 11/19/2025) | View PDF |
| Nov 20, 2025 | 19 | MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Opposition re: 13 FIRST MOTION to Remand to State Court . . Document filed by Sean Combs..(Steelsmith, Colin) (Entered: 11/20/2025) | View PDF |
| Nov 20, 2025 | 20 | DECLARATION of Jonathan D. Davis in Opposition re: 13 FIRST MOTION to Remand to State Court .. Document filed by Sean Combs. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - ECF No. 15, # 2 Exhibit B - Emails with Counsel, # 3 Exhibit C - O'Marcaigh Joint Stipulation, # 4 Exhibit D - Combs Declaration).(Steelsmith, Colin) (Entered: 11/20/2025) | No document Exhibit A - ECF No. 15 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | 21 | FIRST LETTER addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Tyrone Blackburn, Esq. dated 12/19/2025 re: withdraw Plaintiff's motion to remand at Docket #13. Document filed by Kirk Burrowes..(Blackburn, Tyrone) (Entered: 12/19/2025) | View PDF |
| Dec 25, 2025 | 22 | FIRST LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time to File Memorandum Of Law In Opposition To Defendant's Motion To Dismiss, Motion To Stay, And Motion To Strike Allegations addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Tyrone A. Blackburn, Esq. dated 12/25/2025. Document filed by Kirk Burrowes. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A-Memorandum Of Law In Opposition To Defendant's Motion To Dismiss, Motion To Stay, And Motion To Strike Allegations).(Blackburn, Tyrone) (Entered: 12/25/2025) | View PDF |
| Jan 5, 2026 | 23 | LETTER addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Jonathan D. Davis dated January 5, 2026 re: Blackburn Letter, dated December 25, 2025. Document filed by Sean Combs..(Davis, Jonathan) (Entered: 01/05/2026) | View PDF |
| Jan 6, 2026 | 24 | LETTER addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Jonathan D. Davis dated January 6, 2026 re: Response to Tyrone Blackburn letter, dated December 25, 2025. Document filed by Sean Combs. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit State Court Docket Notice, # 2 Exhibit Email to Tyrone Blackburn, # 3 Exhibit Email to Tyrone Blackburn, # 4 Exhibit Email to Tyrone Blackburn with attachment).(Davis, Jonathan) (Entered: 01/06/2026) | View PDF Exhibit State Court Docket Notice Exhibit Email to Tyrone Blackburn Exhibit Email to Tyrone Blackburn |
| Apr 24, 2026 | 25 | ORDER Terminating Letter Motion for Extension of Time to File [ECF No. 22]. The Court will consider Plaintiff's untimely opposition in ruling on Defendant's motion to dismiss. The parties are on notice that failure to comply with court orders and all applicable procedural rules may result in sanctions, including: monetary sanctions on counsel and the parties themselves; preclusion of claims, defenses, evidence, and motion practice; and the case-terminating sanctions of dismissal for failure to prosecute and default judgment. Plaintiff personally is on notice that he is ultimately responsible for prosecuting his case, which may be dismissed or otherwise adversely affected because of his chosen counsel's failure to prosecute or failure to comply with court orders and applicable rules. Plaintiff's counsel shall inform his client of this warning. (HEREBY ORDERED by Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil)(Text Only Order) (Entered: 04/24/2026) | No document |
| Apr 24, 2026 | 26 | MEMO ENDORSEMENT on re: 21 Letter filed by Kirk Burrowes. ENDORSEMENT: Granted. SO ORDERED. The Clerk of Court respectfully is requested to terminate ECF No. 13. (Signed by Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil on 4/24/2026) (tg) (Entered: 04/24/2026) | View PDF |
| Apr 24, 2026 | 27 | FIRST LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time for Defendant Sean Combs to File a Reply in Support of His Motion to Dismiss and for Clarification of the Court's April 24, 2026 Order addressed to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil from Jonathan D. Davis dated April 24, 2026. Document filed by Sean Combs..(Russell, David) (Entered: 04/24/2026) | View PDF |
| Apr 27, 2026 | 28 | ORDER granting 27 Letter Motion for Extension of Time. In light of the Court's decision to consider Plaintiff's untimely opposition brief, which also does not comply with the Court's Individual Rules with respect to the length and spacing of memoranda of law, Defendant is of course entitled to file a reply brief. The reply is due May 8, 2026. The request for an enlargement of the page limit is GRANTED. The parties are on notice that failure to comply with court orders, the Court's Individual Rules, the Local Rules, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure may result in sanctions, including: monetary sanctions on counsel and the parties themselves; preclusion of claims, defenses, evidence, and motion practice; and the case-terminating sanctions of dismissal and default judgment. Plaintiff is on notice that he is ultimately responsible for prosecuting this case, which may be dismissed or otherwise adversely impacted by his chosen counsel's conduct. The Court directs Plaintiff's counsel to inform his client of this warning. The Court also admonishes Plaintiff's counsel to exercise more reasonable professional judgment in his dealings with defense counsel. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil on 4/27/2026) (ar) (Entered: 04/27/2026) | View PDF |
| May 8, 2026 | 29 | REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 16 MOTION to Dismiss Complaint. MOTION to Strike Document No. [Portions of ECF No. 1-1] . MOTION to Stay . . Document filed by Sean Combs..(Russell, David) (Entered: 05/08/2026) | View PDF |
| Apr 27, 2026 | 28.1 | Set/Reset Deadlines: Replies due by 5/8/2026. (ar) | No document |
| Sep 22, 2025 | 3.1 | Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron is designated to handle matters that may be referred in this case. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1) parties are notified that they may consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2018-06/AO-3.pdf. (jgo) | No document |
| Sep 22, 2025 | 3.2 | ***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING CIVIL CASE OPENING STATISTICAL ERROR CORRECTION: Notice to attorney Jonathan David Davis. The following case opening statistical information was erroneously selected/entered: County code New York;. The following correction(s) have been made to your case entry: the County code has been modified to XX Out of State. Corrections were updated as per the Civil Cover Sheet. (jgo) | No document |
| Sep 22, 2025 | 3.3 | Case Designated ECF. (jgo) | No document |
| Sep 22, 2025 | 3.4 | CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/district-judges. Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/rules/ecf-related-instructions..(jgo) | No document |
| Oct 31, 2025 | 8.1 | Set/Reset Deadlines: Amended Pleadings due by 11/14/2025. Motions due by 11/21/2025. (tg) | No document |
Attorneys
Tyrone A. Blackburn
T. A. Blackburn Law, PLLC
Plaintiff
Jonathan D. Davis
Jonathan D. Davis P.C.
Civil Defense