Jay-Z’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Lawyer Who Filed Rape Case Faces Skeptical Appeals Court
One judge called the rapper's key evidence "highly suspicious" during oral arguments on Thursday (Aug. 20).
A California appeals court is considering whether to uphold the dismissal of Jay-Z's lawsuit against personal injury attorney Tony Buzbee for defamation and extortion. Buzbee had previously filed a lawsuit accusing Jay-Z of raping a 13-year-old girl decades ago. Jay-Z vehemently denied these accusations and subsequently sued Buzbee for allegedly fabricating the claims for financial gain and publicity.
At the heart of the dispute is a recorded interview between private investigators and the anonymous accuser, referred to as Jane Doe, in which she reportedly admitted that the rape claims were false and that Buzbee had pressured her into lying. However, Judge Mark H. Epstein ruled last July that this interview was inadmissible under the legal hearsay rule, leading to the dismissal of Jay-Z's case due to insufficient evidence.
During the oral arguments, three appellate judges expressed concerns about the origin of the recording and its reliability. They questioned who hired the private investigators to speak with Jane Doe and whether Buzbee or his associates were involved. Jay-Z's attorneys argued that they had no knowledge of the recording's existence and believed it was not obtained through their agency.
The appellate judges also questioned the credibility of the recording, noting that Jane Doe appeared to be answering leading questions from the investigators. One judge, Anne Richardson, specifically pointed out that Jane Doe's responses seemed to be simple yes-or-no answers.
Buzbee's lawyer, Samuel Moniz, argued that the investigators threatened to expose Jane Doe's identity unless she cooperated, which he claimed created an intimidating atmosphere. He suggested that the recording should be excluded from the proceedings, as she might not be consistent in her testimony under cross-examination.
Jay-Z's attorney, Jeremy Rosen, urged the appeal judges to reconsider and keep the case alive for further investigation. He argued that the discovery process should include document exchange and witness testimony before a decision is made on Buzbee's alleged conduct. Rosen emphasized that due process demands that Jane Doe is given the opportunity to testify and that the jury can then decide her credibility and the facts involved.
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