Cadwalader has secured a dismissal of all claims against Diageo North America, the largest subsidiary of the world's biggest premium spirits business, as a defendant in litigation filed by singer Dawn Richard against entertainer Sean "Diddy" Combs earlier this year.
Mr. Combs previously served as a paid spokesman for Diageo's Cîroc vodka brand, and the parties co-owned DeLeón tequila through a joint venture established in 2013. Earlier this year, we advised Diageo in a global settlement ending litigation and officially severing all business ties with Combs.
The Richard lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 10, alleges that Combs sexually harassed and assaulted Ms. Richard, deprived her of food and sleep, and refused to pay her adequately. The lawsuit claims that Diageo was unjustly enriched at Ms. Richard's expense by using her voice, image, likeness and persona without compensating her in the course of Mr. Combs' advertising and promotion of Cîroc.
On December 5, after reviewing Cadwalader's arguments noting the frivolous nature of the plaintiff's claims, Ms. Richard and her legal team withdrew all of her claims against our client. The court amended the action to exclude and delete all references to Diageo as a defendant.
The Cadwalader team was led by partners Ellen Holloman and Amanda Devereux.