Jay-Z has taken a legal hit in his ongoing battle with Texas attorney Tony Buzbee. On Monday, a Los Angeles County judge dismissed the rapper’s extortion and defamation lawsuit—though the decision may not be the final word.
Judge Mark Epstein ruled against Jay-Z, legal name Shawn Carter, but acknowledged the complexity of the case. “There is no demand for a particular sum of money,” the judge wrote, pointing out that the mediation request at the center of the dispute focused solely on sexual abuse claims that were part of a possible civil suit. He emphasized there was no indication that Buzbee threatened to go to law enforcement if Carter didn’t comply. That kind of threat would have turned the situation into clear extortion.
While Epstein admitted “the alleged conduct here constitutes criminal activity,” he explained that selling silence in a civil matter isn’t necessarily extortion. “Selling silence as to law enforcement for money is extortion, but there is no promise of silence in the criminal context here,” he wrote. “And selling silence for money in the civil context is not extortion; it is a settlement with a non-disclosure element.”
Buzbee previously represented an anonymous woman who accused Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her when she was 13. After the case was dropped, Jay-Z filed suit against Buzbee, alleging extortion.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Carter’s attorney Alex Spiro expressed disappointment. He said the ruling was based on a misreading of California law. He added that the judge even admitted the ruling might have gone the other way had certain evidence been admitted. “We are surprised and disappointed by this ruling,” Spiro said, confirming they will appeal.
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