Hip-hop artist Jay-Z has had his petition to dismiss a civil rape case against him denied.
The New York judge that denied the rapper's petition also ruled that the woman known as Jane Doe could remain anonymous at this stage of the proceedings.
Newsweek contacted Jay-Z's representatives for comment by email on Friday outside normal business hours.
Why It Matters
Jay-Z, whose given name is Shawn Carter, has been sued alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs by an Alabama woman who said they raped her when she was 13 years old.
Judge Analisa Torres ruled that the woman could continue to remain anonymous but might have to disclose her identity at a later date if the case proceeded. Torres cited the public's "substantial interest" in the case as one reason for her decision, the Associated Press reported.
What To Know
Both Jay-Z and Combs have denied any wrongdoing and highlighted inaccuracies in Doe's accusations, a fact she has acknowledged herself while maintaining that she is telling the truth.
Combs is being held in a New York jail on multiple counts of trafficking and sexual abuse. He has denied culpability on all charges.
In her ruling, Torres also lambasted Alex Spiro, Jay-Z's attorney, for "inflammatory language" against Tony Buzbee, the accuser's lawyer.
She said Spiro had filed a "litany of letters and motions attempting to impugn the character of Plaintiff's lawyer, many of them expounding on the purported 'urgency' of this case."
What People Are Saying
Judge Analisa Torres of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York wrote in her ruling: "Carter's lawyer's relentless filing of combative motions containing inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks is inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client. The Court will not fast-track the judicial process merely because counsel demands it."
What's Next
Wayne Dennison, who represented actor Johnny Depp in his successful lawsuit against his former partner Amber Heard, described Jay-Z's approach to his defense as "groundbreaking." He added that it could change how celebrities approach such legal matters.
Dennison previously told Newsweek: "Jay-Z and his legal team have taken an aggressive but, very likely, the right approach from a long-term public relations perspective. The best defense is very often a strong offense."
He added: "It is very difficult to affirmatively prove complete innocence, and some celebrities will likely buy confidentiality if offered at the right price. If required to respond, those known to be in Mr. Combs' immediate orbit, especially those who were minors at the time, are also likely to deflect any blame to Mr. Combs and the incredible power that he exercised over them and in the recording, fashion and other related industries."
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