Aristalia Benitez v. Combs et al

In 1995, Aristalia Benitez, a 20-year-old NYU sophomore working at Peppe Jeans in New York City, was invited by Andy Hilfiger to a party at a restaurant at 110 Waverly Pl, NY, NY 10011. After arriving, Sean Combs sat next to her, offered her a supposedly non-alcoholic drink despite her refusal of alcohol, and then forcibly groped her breasts, buttocks, and genital area under her clothes despite her resistance. The drink, allegedly laced with Rohypnol (GHB) by Combs or his agents, rendered her unconscious; she awoke hours later in a taxicab wearing gym clothes from her bag, with missing original clothes, soaked underwear, and significant groin pain, suggesting vaginal penetration by Combs and/or others while unconscious. She suffered ongoing physical and emotional trauma.

Compensatory damages exceeding lower court jurisdictional limits for physical injury, pain, suffering, emotional distress, and economic harm; punitive damages; attorneys’ fees and costs; prejudgment interest; and other relief deemed just and proper.

This case is voluntarily dismissed without prejudice.