Jay-Z accuser’s lawyer barred from practising law in New York
The lawyer who accused Shawn ‘Jay-Z‘ Carter of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 has reportedly been barred from practising law in the state of New York. Earlier this month, Tony Buzbee voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit against the rapper, stating that Jane Doe “hereby gives notice that the above-captioned action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice.”
Now, Buzbee is facing consequences for his actions. According to legal journalist Meghann Cuniff, the Committee on Grievances for the Southern District of New York has ruled that his admission application has been denied. The Southern District of New York includes New York City’s five boroughs and Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan counties.
Buzbee still has multiple lawsuits against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, so he must seek a “pro hac vice” admission to proceed with the cases. Following Jay-Z’s victory, he issued a statement that targeted Buzbee, claiming the whole thing was a “money grab.”
“The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed,” he wrote. “This civil suit was
without merit and never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims. I would not wish this experience on anyone. The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed.”
He continued, “This 1-800 lawyer gets to file a suit hiding behind Jane Doe, and when they quickly realise that the money grab is going to fail, they get to walk away with no repercussions. The system has failed. The court must protect victims, OF COURSE, while with the same ethical responsibility, the courts must protect the innocent from being accused without a shred of evidence. May the truth prevail for all victims and those falsely accused equally.”
In the December lawsuit, Jane Doe claimed that Carter removed her clothes, held her down and raped her while Combs and a female celebrity watched. She said Combs also raped her, as Carter and the woman observed.
In a statement after the case’s dismissal, Carter’s attorney, Alex Spiro, added, “The false case against Jay-Z, that never should have been brought, has been dismissed with prejudice. By standing up in the face of heinous and false allegations, Jay has done what few can – he pushed back, he never settled, he never paid one red penny, he triumphed and cleared his name.”