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Derrick Lee Smith, 51, won the multimillion-dollar judgment by
default in Lenawee County Circuit Court during a virtual hearing
on Monday after Combs, 54, failed to show up.
An attorney for Combs said the rapper would move to have the
judgment dismissed.
“This man (Smith) is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who
has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping
over the last 26 years," attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a
statement.
"His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from
prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been
served with any lawsuit. Mr. Combs looks forward to having this
judgment swiftly dismissed," the statement added.
Smith, who was sentenced to prison for 75 years on sexual
misconduct and kidnapping charges, filed complaints against
Combs in June and August. He was given a temporary restraining
order against Combs, who has several other sexual assault cases
still pending.
Combs, founder of the landmark label Bad Boy Records, is one of
the most influential producers and executives in hip-hop and a
hugely successful performer, as well as the impresario of his
own Sean John clothing line.
(Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles;
Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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