Diddy's Lawyers Seek to Exit Defamation Case, Citing Non-Payment and Lack of Cooperation
Law firm Sher Tremonte LLP asks court to withdraw, alleging rapper owes six months of fees and has hindered their representation.
Attorneys for Sean "Diddy" Combs have filed a motion to withdraw from his defamation case, citing substantial unpaid legal fees and a breakdown in cooperation with their client. The law firm Sher Tremonte LLP stated in court documents that Combs has failed to pay for their services for six months, making their representation "unreasonably difficult."
In the filing, attorney Michael Tremonte, a partner at Sher Tremonte LLP, alleged that Combs is "in substantial arrears in paying" for the firm's work. The legal team claims that Combs has not made any payments for services rendered since late 2025, resulting in a significant overdue balance.
Tremonte further asserted that their representation has been hampered by a "total breakdown in cooperation and communication" with Combs, who they claim has declined to be available for substantive communications for over four months. This lack of engagement, the firm argues, makes it impossible to continue providing effective legal services.
The legal team stated that Combs was notified multiple times through mail and email to his power of attorney that they would seek to withdraw unless payments were made and he became available for communication. They added that continued representation poses an "unreasonable financial burden" on the firm due to the large past-due balances and the volume of work.
Combs, through a representative, countered the firm's claims, stating that he decided to switch lawyers because he felt he was being overcharged and that bills were being accumulated without approval. A representative for Combs described the situation as a "business matter" and asserted that any talk of unpaid fees is part of a dispute over unapproved charges.
Sher Tremonte LLP is seeking to withdraw from Combs' defamation lawsuit against Courtney Burgess, Ariel Mitchell, and Nexstar Media Inc., the parent company of NewsNation.
Combs is currently serving a prison sentence after being convicted of two prostitution-related charges in a federal trial last year. He was sentenced to four years and two months, with his sentence beginning in October 2025. His potential release date has shifted multiple times since then.