Dickerson-Neal v. Combs et al

On January 3, 1991, Joi Dickerson-Neal, a Syracuse University student, reluctantly agreed to dine with Sean Combs at Wells Restaurant in Harlem, New York. After dinner, Combs pressured her to accompany him, and during the drive, he insisted she smoke a blunt, which she believes was laced with a narcotic. She became incapacitated, unable to stand or walk, and Combs took her to a music studio and then a residence, where he sexually assaulted her while recording it. Days later, Devante Swing of Jodeci informed her that Combs had shown the 'sex tape' to multiple people, replying 'everyone' when asked who saw it. The assault led to severe emotional distress, forcing her to drop out of college after hospitalization for depression and suicidal ideation. She faced further humiliation as Combs confronted her publicly at a party in the 1990s, and his rising fame made it impossible for her to continue in the music industry, prompting a move to California. The trauma resurfaced in 2023 after Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit against Combs.

Declaratory judgment that Defendants violated New York laws; compensatory damages for mental and emotional injury, distress, pain, suffering, and reputational harm; punitive damages; attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses; and other equitable relief as deemed just.