{"id":2103717,"date":"2026-08-20T23:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T20:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2103717"},"modified":"2026-08-20T23:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T20:40:14","slug":"jay-zs-defamation-lawsuit-against-lawyer-who-filed-rape-case-faces-skeptical-appeals-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2103717","title":{"rendered":"Jay-Z\u2019s Defamation Lawsuit Against Lawyer Who Filed Rape Case Faces Skeptical Appeals Court"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2275012575-e1787266408956.jpg?w=1024&#8243;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"a-content a-content--featured a-bb-pro-article-image-offsets a-bbpro-font-body-m a-dropcap\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tA California appeals court is leaning towards affirming the dismissal of Jay-Z\u2019s extortion and defamation lawsuit against personal injury attorney <strong>Tony Buzbee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tA panel of state appellate judges heard arguments on Thursday (Aug. 20) in Jay-Z\u2019s Los Angeles case against Buzbee, who filed a short-lived 2024 lawsuit accusing the rap icon (Shawn Carter) of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs decades earlier. Jay-Z vehemently denied this and then went on the offensive, suing Buzbee in two different forums for allegedly fabricating the claims in pursuit of money and publicity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story \/\/ lrv-u-align-items-center u-align-items-flex-start@mobile-max  lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column@mobile-max u-width-710@desktop lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv-u-margin-tb-1 u-margin-b-250@mobile-max u-margin-t-275@mobile-max u-margin-t-250@desktop u-margin-b-250@desktop u-margin-lr-n1@mobile-max lrv-u-border-b-1 lrv-u-border-color-brand-secondary-dark lrv-u-border-t-1 lrv-u-padding-tb-1  lrv-u-padding-tb-1@mobile-max lrv-u-padding-r-1@mobile-max lrv-u-padding-l-00@mobile-max u-grid-gap-18@desktop u-grid-gap-0@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-text-align-center lrv-u-flex-shrink-0 lrv-u-padding-a-050 u-padding-l-0625@mobile-max u-padding-b-0.375@mobile-max  lrv-u-background-color-brand-primary u-margin-t-n2@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-l-1@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-b-075@mobile-max\">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-article-related-module-title a-article-related-module-title--color-brand-primary a-font-accent-xl u-font-weight-800 u-letter-spacing-0179 u-line-height-normal lrv-u-color-grey-dark bb-pro-related-stories-label lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story-wrapper lrv-u-flex lrv-u-justify-content-space-between  a-children-border-vertical a-children-border--grey a-children-border-width-050\">\n<div class=\"o-card  lrv-u-width-100p\">\n<div class=\"o-card__image-wrap lrv-u-flex-shrink-0 u-width-191 u-width-150@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image   lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Jay-z-The-Book-Of-Clarence-jan-2024-a-billboard-1548.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"Jay-Z\" height width><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content  lrv-u-padding-l-150@desktop lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  c-title a-font-basic u-font-size-22@desktop u-font-size-16@mobile-max u-line-height-26px u-line-height-22px@mobile-max u-margin-b-0.625@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line@desktop a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max lrv-u-color-grey-dark lrv-u-color-grey-dark:hover\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tJay-Z Nemesis Tony Buzbee Quotes Rapper\u2019s Lyrics From \u2018Big Pimpin\u2019 in Latest Legal\u00a0Filings\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"o-article-byline \/\/ lrv-a-unstyle-list a-font-accent-m lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-word-spacing-n3px u-padding-t-0.875@desktop u-padding-t-00@mobile-max\">\n<li class=\"lrv-u-flex a-byline-color\">\n<div class=\"c-tagline  u-word-spacing-n3px a-children-link-color-black:hover a-truncate-ellipsis-2line\"><span>Bill Donahue<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe rapper\u2019s California case relied heavily on a recorded interview between private investigators and the anonymous rape accuser, known as Jane Doe, in which the woman supposedly admitted the claims were false and that Buzbee pressured her to lie. Judge Mark H. Epstein ruled last July that this interview is inadmissible under the legal hearsay rule \u2014 and as a result, he threw out the case due to insufficient evidence at the outset. Jay-Z appealed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAs oral arguments began Thursday, three appellate judges announced that their tentative thinking was to affirm Judge Epstein\u2019s dismissal. Judge Stephen Goorvitch voiced concerns about the origin of this recording, since it\u2019s not clear who hired the private investigators who spoke to Doe. Jay-Z\u2019s attorneys say it wasn\u2019t them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cMy concern is a plaintiff\u2019s lawyer shows up in court and says, \u2018Magically this interview has been dropped in my lap, I had nothing to do with it,\u2019\u201d said Judge Goorvitch. \u201cWe have no information about where this came from. It looks highly suspicious that somehow, somebody talked to Mr. Buzbee\u2019s client directly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tJudge Anne Richardson agreed that the recording is \u201cnot a reliable statement,\u201d since Doe seemed to merely be giving yes-or-no answers to leading questions from investigators. A lawyer representing Buzbee, <strong>Samuel Moniz<\/strong>, went a step further by arguing that investigators threatened to publicly reveal Doe\u2019s identity unless she cooperated.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story \/\/ lrv-u-align-items-center u-align-items-flex-start@mobile-max  lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column@mobile-max u-width-710@desktop lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv-u-margin-tb-1 u-margin-b-250@mobile-max u-margin-t-275@mobile-max u-margin-t-250@desktop u-margin-b-250@desktop u-margin-lr-n1@mobile-max lrv-u-border-b-1 lrv-u-border-color-brand-secondary-dark lrv-u-border-t-1 lrv-u-padding-tb-1  lrv-u-padding-tb-1@mobile-max lrv-u-padding-r-1@mobile-max lrv-u-padding-l-00@mobile-max u-grid-gap-18@desktop u-grid-gap-0@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-text-align-center lrv-u-flex-shrink-0 lrv-u-padding-a-050 u-padding-l-0625@mobile-max u-padding-b-0.375@mobile-max  lrv-u-background-color-brand-primary u-margin-t-n2@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-l-1@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-b-075@mobile-max\">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-article-related-module-title a-article-related-module-title--color-brand-primary a-font-accent-xl u-font-weight-800 u-letter-spacing-0179 u-line-height-normal lrv-u-color-grey-dark bb-pro-related-stories-label lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story-wrapper lrv-u-flex lrv-u-justify-content-space-between  a-children-border-vertical a-children-border--grey a-children-border-width-050\">\n<div class=\"o-card  lrv-u-width-100p\">\n<div class=\"o-card__image-wrap lrv-u-flex-shrink-0 u-width-191 u-width-150@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image   lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/jay-z-extra-innings-2026-billboard-1800.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"Jay-Z\" height width><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content  lrv-u-padding-l-150@desktop lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  c-title a-font-basic u-font-size-22@desktop u-font-size-16@mobile-max u-line-height-26px u-line-height-22px@mobile-max u-margin-b-0.625@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line@desktop a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max lrv-u-color-grey-dark lrv-u-color-grey-dark:hover\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tHow Much Did Jay-Z\u2019s \u2018Reasonable Doubt\u2019 &amp; \u2018Blueprint\u2019 Streams Rise Over Yankee Stadium\u00a0Shows?\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"o-article-byline \/\/ lrv-a-unstyle-list a-font-accent-m lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-word-spacing-n3px u-padding-t-0.875@desktop u-padding-t-00@mobile-max\">\n<li class=\"lrv-u-flex a-byline-color\">\n<div class=\"c-tagline  u-word-spacing-n3px a-children-link-color-black:hover a-truncate-ellipsis-2line\"><span>Kyle Denis<\/span>, <span>Andrew Unterberger<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cTo say these circumstances are inherently intimidating is an understatement,\u201d said Moniz during the hearing. \u201cIf you listen to the recording, her voice is trembling. She\u2019s frightened. She\u2019s totally caught off guard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tJay-Z\u2019s lawyer, <strong>Jeremy Rosen<\/strong>, tried to sway the appeal judges into changing their minds and reviving the case for further litigation. He said that full evidence discovery \u2014 including the exchange of documents and witness testimony \u2014 should be conducted before it\u2019s decided whether or not Buzbee pressured Doe to fabricate rape claims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cAt trial, [Jane Doe] will either testify consistently with this investigation or she won\u2019t, and the jury will then get to decide if she\u2019s credible and what the ultimate facts are,\u201d said Rosen. \u201cDue process demands at least the opportunity to have limited discovery.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe appellate court took the matter under consideration for a written ruling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWhile Jay-Z waits for a decision on the future of the California case, he\u2019s still pursuing a separate malicious prosecution suit against both Buzbee and Doe in federal court. That matter was recently transferred from Alabama to New York, and Buzbee is scheduled to file a key motion to dismiss next month.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/2HpFicp.png\" alt=\"Billboard VIP Pass\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/pro\/jay-z-lawsuit-rape-accusation-appeals-court\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2275012575-e1787266408956.jpg?w=1024&#8243;] A California appeals court is leaning towards affirming the dismissal of Jay-Z\u2019s extortion and defamation lawsuit against personal injury attorney Tony Buzbee. A panel of state appellate judges heard arguments on Thursday (Aug. 20) in Jay-Z\u2019s Los Angeles case against Buzbee, who filed a short-lived 2024 lawsuit accusing the rap icon (Shawn [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[48,226],"class_list":["post-2103717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-billboard-com","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2103717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2103717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2103717\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2103717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2103717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2103717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}