Diddy Ordered to Pay Nearly $500,000 in Legal Fees

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been ordered to pay $477,700.50 in legal fees after losing a defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal and companies connected to a documentary about the music mogul.

A $100 Million Lawsuit Ends With a Large Bill

Combs had sought more than $100 million in damages over the documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy. The lawsuit was dismissed earlier this year, and the defendants later asked the court to recover nearly $1 million in legal fees.

Judge Cuts the Requested Amount by More Than Half

New York Supreme Court Justice Phaedra F. Perry-Bond ruled on October 6 that the defendants should receive $477,700.50. The court had been asked to award $990,292 but found that some of the lawyers’ billed hours were excessive or unreasonable.

The Court Still Approved the Lawyers’ Hourly Rates

Although the judge reduced the amount of time that could be billed for several parts of the case, the court did not reduce the lawyers’ hourly rates. The ruling noted the complexity and publicity surrounding the litigation.

Another Legal Setback for Combs

The fee order adds another financial consequence to Combs’ recent legal troubles. He is currently serving a federal prison sentence after being convicted on two prostitution-related transportation counts, while other legal matters involving him continue.

What Happens Next

The October 6 order requires the defendants’ lawyers to submit a proposed judgment reflecting the $477,700.50 award. Combs has also pursued an appeal related to the dismissal of his lawsuit.

Source: New York Supreme Court records; People