What changed
Hay first filed the suit in July 2025 as a John Doe and later identified himself. It alleges incidents in Los Angeles in 2020 and 2021. Combs and several of his companies asked the court to dismiss it, and a March 5, 2026 minute order denied that request (as reported by Keeping Tabs).
In an earlier ruling, reported in February 2026, the court let claims for sexual battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress proceed against a co-defendant, and dismissed a negligent supervision claim (as reported).
Combs’s attorney has said that Combs “categorically denies as false and defamatory all claims that he sexually abused anyone” (as reported).
What it means
Denying a motion to dismiss is not a finding that the claims are true. It means they are legally sufficient as pleaded, and the case moves on to discovery.
- Keeping Tabs (Radar), "Read the documents: Sean Diddy Combs" (March 12, 2026) (news reporting) Accurate as of March 12, 2026.
- New York Post via Yahoo, report of the February 2026 ruling on a co-defendant's motion (February 5, 2026) (news reporting) Accurate as of February 5, 2026.
- Radar via AOL, Combs's attorney's statement (news reporting) Accurate as of March 12, 2026.
