Lawyers Move to Exit Defamation Case
Attorneys representing Sean Combs in a $100 million defamation lawsuit have filed a declaration to withdraw as counsel, according to a Monday filing in the Southern District of New York. Michael Tremonte, a partner at Sher Tremonte LLP, stated that Combs, 56, has not paid a substantial balance of attorney's fees, costs, and expenses. The filing says Combs is more than six months behind on payments and that cooperation and communication between him and the firm have completely broken down.[S1]
According to the declaration, Combs has refused for more than four months to be reachable for prompt, meaningful, and direct discussions regarding his legal matters. The firm contends that this refusal made representing him unreasonably hard and prevented it from delivering effective legal services. Tremonte had been handling Combs's civil matters, among them the $100 million defamation action naming Courtney Burgess, Ariel Mitchell, and Nexstar Media Inc., though he was not part of Combs's criminal defense in New York City last year.[S1]
Combs Says Split Was His Decision
Through his spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, Combs said the split was his own choice. He explained that he decided to switch lawyers because he would not let anyone take advantage of him by overcharging and running up bills that were never approved. Combs described the matter as strictly a business dispute and said any talk about unpaid fees is part of their disagreement over those unapproved charges.[S1]
In an email response, Tremonte disputed the idea that his firm had overcharged, calling that claim untrue. He stated that Sher Tremonte handled Combs's matters with dedication and efficiency despite difficult conditions. The court papers, he explained, cite two reasons for stepping away: Combs owes a significant amount of overdue legal fees, and cooperation between him and the firm has collapsed.[S1]
Prison Sentence and Case Background
Combs is incarcerated at a federal facility in New Jersey, serving 50 months for two interstate prostitution counts tied to that case; prosecutors had asked for 11 years. He was found not guilty of the weightier allegations, such as racketeering and sex trafficking, and has consistently proclaimed his innocence, entering not-guilty pleas on every count. Federal Bureau of Prisons records list his release date as May 8, 2028, which could be moved up for good conduct. A source familiar with the situation told NBC News that Combs was placed in solitary confinement in July following an altercation with another inmate.[S1]
