HOUSTON - Allegations flying that music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs sexually assaulted guests at lavish parties has created a nasty battle in Houston state court between two law firms involved in the ensuing litigation.
Lawyer Tony Buzbee, who now represents alleged victims against Combs and also negotiated settlements for the more than 20 alleged sexual assault victims of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, was recently denied a restraining order against the firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.
He'd asked for a temporary restraining order on Dec. 5 in Harris County District Court, a request that was met with anger by Quinn Emanuel.
"On this score, Buzbee has outdone itself," the firm wrote the following day. "Buzbee invites this Court to enjoin a law firm, who represents a client prosecuting a case against Buzbee, from contacting 'any person or entity with any connection to Buzbee.'
"In other words, Buzbee invites the Court to enjoin a law firm from practicing law."
Diddy initially faced lawsuits by at least eight women and one man and has been criminally indicted for racketeering and sex trafficking. The Buzbee Law Firm found about 120 more plaintiffs, including 25 minors, who claim they were sexually assaulted by Combs and others.
It's those "others" that led an anonymous target to retain Quinn Emanuel to file suit in California against Buzbee. The lawsuit alleges a shakedown.
"Through a series of media statements and lawsuits describing the acts of unnamed individual defendants, Buzbee made his threats to his celebrity targets clear - pay exorbitant sums of money to remain anonymous, or be publicly named and shamed, offered up to the FBI for criminal investigation, and accused of vile acts in statements to the media," Quinn Emanuel says.
Last month, Buzbee alleged the unnamed celebrity raped multiple minors who had been drugged at Diddy's parties. He told the celebrity he would find other victims if he did not agree to a confidential mediation, Quinn Emanuel says.
"John Doe was faced with a gun to his head - either repeatedly pay an exorbitant sum of money to stop Buzbee from the wide publication of wildly false allegations of sexual assault... or else face the threat of an untold number of civil suits and financial and personal ruin." Quinn Emanuel says.
The celebrity and Quinn Emanuel sued Buzbee in Los Angeles Superior Court on Nov. 18. Buzbee responded with his Harris County suit, which alleges Quinn Emanuel hired a team of private investigators to harass Buzbee and its current and former employees, family members and current clients.
Buzbee says investigators went to the residences of its former clients to harass them and propose filing claims against it for fraud. Family members of firm employees, including Buzbee's daughter, were also contacted, in an effort to drum up fraud clients against Buzbee, it says.
"The behavior described above goes well beyond purported 'due diligence' into a litigation opponent," Buzbee says.
"It is outrageous, despicable, harassing behavior that is clearly intended to besmirch the name and reputation of the firm, start rumors regarding bogus 'investigations' or business practices, and to bother and harass persons associated with the firm in order to apply pressure on Mr. Buzbee and the firm.
"It is beyond the bounds of decency and the law and it needs to end."
But after a hearing on Dec. 6, Judge Michael Gomez denied Buzbee's TRO in a one-page order. Quinn Emanuel had argued granting the TRO would "destroy the status quo" and that the relief requested in it was "woefully overbroad."