Variety reports that the case was filed by Michigan inmate Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who alleged that Combs drugged and assaulted him at a 1997 party in Detroit. The judgment was handed down by a Lenawee County Circuit Court judge after Combs failed to appear for a virtual hearing on Monday.
Cardello-Smith, a 51-year-old inmate with a history of filing civil lawsuits, was granted a temporary restraining order against Combs before the ruling.The court set a payment schedule for the $100 million judgment, with Combs expected to pay $10 million per month starting from October 1.According to the report, the lawsuit claims that Combs assaulted Cardello-Smith nearly three decades ago. According to reports from Detroit’s Metro Times, the inmate is known for his legal challenges and has taught himself civil and criminal law while serving his sentence.
Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, strongly denied the allegations, dismissing them as fraudulent. He called Cardello-Smith a “convicted felon and sexual predator” with a long criminal record, including 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping. Agnifilo emphasized that Combs had never met Cardello-Smith, nor had he been properly served with any lawsuit related to the case.
A source close to Combs revealed that the legal paperwork was sent to an outdated address, causing his legal team to miss the hearing. Combs’ lawyers plan to challenge the judgment and seek its dismissal.
Cardello-Smith also claimed that in August, Combs offered him $2.3 million to drop the case, but he refused, opting to pursue legal action.
The case is one of several sexual misconduct allegations levelled against Combs in recent years, many of which he has denied. However, in June, Combs admitted to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura after video footage surfaced of a 2016 incident in a hotel. He later apologized, acknowledging that he had acted inappropriately, describing his actions as being “messed up.”
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