Sean Combs’ Lawyers Seek to Withdraw From Defamation Case

Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing another legal development after attorneys from the New York firm Sher Tremonte moved to withdraw from representing him in a civil defamation lawsuit.

The lawyers said in court papers that Combs had fallen more than six months behind on legal fees and that communication between him and the firm had deteriorated significantly.

Lawyers Cite Unpaid Fees

Michael Tremonte, a partner at Sher Tremonte, told the court that Combs had not paid a substantial balance of attorney fees, costs and expenses accumulated during the firm’s representation.

The filing also alleged that Combs had not made himself available for timely and substantive communication about his cases for more than four months.

According to the lawyers, the situation created what they described as a “total breakdown in cooperation and communication,” making it difficult for the firm to continue providing legal services.

The firm was representing Combs in a $100 million defamation lawsuit involving Courtney Burgess, attorney Ariel Mitchell and Nexstar Media Inc. The lawsuit relates to allegations made publicly about Combs, which he has denied.

Combs Disputes the Lawyers’ Account

Combs has disputed the law firm’s characterization of the situation.

Through his spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, Combs said that he made the decision to change lawyers. He accused the firm of overcharging him and said some of the bills had not been approved.

Sher Tremonte rejected that characterization, saying the firm withdrew because of unpaid invoices and what it described as Combs’ lack of cooperation.

That means the dispute over the legal fees is itself contested: the firm says unpaid bills and communication problems led to the withdrawal, while Combs describes the split as a business decision involving disputed charges.

What Happens Next?

The attorneys’ request to withdraw will need to be addressed by the court before the firm is formally released from the case.

The development comes as Combs continues to face multiple legal matters. He is currently serving a federal prison sentence after being convicted on two prostitution-related federal counts in his criminal case, while he was acquitted of the more serious racketeering and sex-trafficking charges.

For now, the dispute over his civil representation adds another complication to the ongoing defamation litigation.

The court filings reveal a breakdown between Combs and the lawyers who had been representing him—but the disagreement over why the relationship ended remains sharply disputed by both sides.