Key facts
- Attorneys for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs are seeking to withdraw from representing him.
- The law firm Sher Tremonte cited unpaid legal bills and a breakdown in communication.
- Combs has not paid a substantial balance of attorney's fees for over six months.
- Combs accused his lawyers of overcharging him for unapproved charges.
- Combs is currently incarcerated at Fort Dix federal correctional institution.
- Combs is involved in a $100m civil defamation lawsuit.
Attorneys for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have filed to withdraw from representing the music mogul, citing a dispute over unpaid legal bills and a significant breakdown in communication. The New York law firm Sher Tremonte stated in a court filing that Combs has not paid a substantial balance of attorney's fees, costs, and expenses for over six months, rendering their representation unreasonably difficult.
According to the filing in US district court in the southern district of New York, Combs has declined to make himself available for substantive communications about his cases for four months. The firm stated that this lack of cooperation has resulted in a breakdown in attorney-client communications, making it impossible for Sher Tremonte to continue providing effective legal services.
Combs, who is currently incarcerated at Fort Dix federal correctional institution, has accused his lawyers of overcharging him. In a statement provided by his representatives, Combs said he decided to switch lawyers because he would not allow anyone to take advantage of him by overcharging for unapproved bills, characterizing the situation as strictly a business matter.
Michael Tremonte, a partner at Sher Tremonte, rejected Combs' claims, stating that the firm represented its client zealously and efficiently. He reiterated that the withdrawal is due to non-payment of long-overdue invoices and Combs's uncooperative behavior, calling any suggestion of overcharging false.
Combs is currently serving a 50-month federal prison term for prostitution-related offenses. He is also involved in a $100 million civil defamation lawsuit stemming from his conviction last year in a sex-trafficking and racketeering case. Separately, record producer Jonathan Hay has publicly accused Combs of assault, sexual harassment, false imprisonment, and infliction of emotional distress. Combs sued Hay for defamation, as well as music manager Courtney Burgess and her lawyer Ariel Mitchell, for allegedly spreading false claims about him, including assertions about flash drives containing videos of Combs sexually assaulting minors and celebrities.