Lakeisha Ward v. Sean Combs et al

In 2018, Lakeisha Ward, an exotic dancer from Las Vegas, was invited through a contact to a pool party hosted by a famous rapper at the LSS Pool (now Sahara) in Las Vegas. At this event, several men identifying as party promoters approached Ward and other women, inviting them to a high-profile pool party the following weekend at Sean Combs’ residence in Los Angeles. Ward and three other women accepted, and the promoters arranged for them to be flown to Los Angeles on a private plane. A limousine picked Ward up and took her to the airport, where she boarded the flight. Upon arrival at Combs’ residence, their phones and belongings were taken, and they signed a non-disclosure agreement. At the party, Ward was offered an abnormally fizzy or carbonated alcoholic drink, which she consumed, leading to feelings of promiscuity and dizziness. A security worker escorted her inside to lie down. Combs approached her, kissed her cheek and neck, and offered assistance. Ward was taken to a bedroom with a circular bed, where her drowsiness intensified. Combs entered, naked except for a Cuban-link necklace, complimented her, and asked if she recognized him. He then removed her bikini, groped and licked her breasts, bit her breasts and stomach, and raped her vaginally and anally while pinning her arms, making sexual comments. Two unidentified males (Individual Does 1 and 2) also assaulted her. Ward fell unconscious due to the substance(s) and trauma. She awoke in pain with blood on her backside and thighs, was instructed by an unidentified Hispanic woman to shower, and found her original clothes replaced. A black Cadillac Escalade returned her belongings, including $10,000 in cash, and two men threatened her to stay silent, noting they had copied her ID. She was escorted to the airport with new clothes and flown back.

Past, present, and future general and special damages, including lost earnings and economic damages; statutory damages; costs of suit; interest as allowed by law; punitive or exemplary damages; attorney’s fees pursuant to Civil Code sections 51.9(b), 52, 52.4; and other relief deemed just by the court.