Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses him and two co-defendants of raping a 17-year-old girl in a New York recording studio back in 2003. Combs argues that the claim is false, hideous, and, more importantly, was filed too late under the law.

In the filing, Combs and his affiliated companies categorically deny the decades-old allegations, emphasizing that the lawsuit has caused significant damage to their reputations and business standing. The plaintiff, whose name has not been revealed, alleges that she was flown to New York on a private jet by Combs' associate and taken to a recording studio where she was given drugs and alcohol until she was incapacitated. She claims that Combs and another individual took turns raping her.

The lawsuit, originally filed in December and amended in March, includes photographs of the plaintiff sitting on Combs' lap on the night in question. However, Combs' defense argues that crucial details such as the date and time of the alleged incident are missing, raising doubts about the credibility of the claim.

Combs' legal team requests the case be dismissed "now, with prejudice," to safeguard his reputation and prevent further reputational injury. They argue that the lawsuit should be considered untimely, as it falls under a different law, New York City's Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which they claim is preempted by the state law. According to the defense, the lawsuit should have been filed by August 2021 to meet the state law's statute of limitations requirements.

The plaintiff's attorneys dismiss Combs' motions as a desperate attempt to avoid accountability, stating that his arguments will not work. At this stage, the focus of the lawsuit remains procedural, rather than on the merits of the case.

It is worth noting that several similar lawsuits have been filed against Combs, some involving decades-old allegations. These lawsuits have been part of the more than 3,700 legal claims filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily suspended certain legal deadlines, allowing sexual assault victims a last opportunity to sue over past abuses. Though the new deadlines have expired, the current suit against Combs was filed under a different law, allowing accusers to file civil complaints after the statute of limitations has expired.

Should the lawsuit proceed after this initial challenge, the judge has ruled that the plaintiff will need to reveal her name. However, the Associated Press typically refrains from naming individuals who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly.

The public scrutiny of Combs began in November with a lawsuit filed by singer Cassie, Combs' former protege and girlfriend, which contained allegations of beatings, rape, and other forms of abuse spanning from 2005 to 2018. Combs denied the allegations, and the complaint was settled the day after it was filed.

In March, Homeland Security Investigations conducted a search of Combs' residences in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex-trafficking investigation. Combs' legal team criticized the search as a disproportionate use of force. The investigation is ongoing, and Combs has not been charged.

Another lawsuit filed by Joi Dickerson, who claimed she was sexually assaulted by Combs when she was a 19-year-old college student, is also facing a motion to dismiss.

This latest motion to dismiss by Combs reflects his continued pushback against the allegations and the legal action taken against him. As the legal proceedings unfold, both sides will present their arguments to determine the validity of the claims made against the hip-hop mogul.