Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers seek to withdraw from $100m defamation lawsuit

Lawyers representing American music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs have asked a federal court for permission to withdraw from his $100 million defamation lawsuit.

Attorney Michael Tremonte of Sher Tremonte LLP said in court filings that Combs had accumulated a substantial unpaid balance in legal fees and expenses.

Tremonte alleged that the rapper had been behind on payments for more than six months.

The attorney also told the court that communication between Combs and the law firm had broken down, making continued representation difficult.

According to the filing, Combs had allegedly failed to make himself available for substantive communication about the cases for several months.

Combs, however, disputed the law firm’s explanation.

Through a statement, he said he made the decision to change lawyers because he believed he was being charged for legal work and expenses he had not approved.

He described the disagreement as a business dispute over fees.

Tremonte rejected the allegation that the firm had overcharged Combs.

The dispute relates to civil litigation including Combs’ defamation case against Courtney Burgess, attorney Ariel Mitchell and Nexstar Media, the company that operates NewsNation.

Combs filed the case after disputing allegations broadcast about purported recordings involving him.

The lawyers who filed the withdrawal motion were representing him in civil matters and were not his criminal trial attorneys.