Extract:
More than a year since Sean “Diddy” Combs’s legal troubles kicked off with abuse and sex trafficking accusations from singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, at least 35 sexual assault lawsuits have been filed against the hip-hop mogul — with more than half of them brought by Jane and John Does.
Legal experts say it’s an “unusual” volume of anonymous lawsuits, particularly noting the gender imbalance (16 male accusers to seven female accusers) and an evolving social and legal landscape in the post-#MeToo era that may be influencing how these individuals come forward.
Lawsuits, also referred to as civil complaints, can be an appealing alternative to criminal proceedings for survivors of sexual abuse, especially if the abuse happened a long time ago.
The burden of proof is not just lower for civil cases, it’s also easier to maintain anonymity leading up to trial.
While many of the cases against Combs are still within the statute of limitations, “there’s a much higher bar to meet to keep anonymity in a criminal court setting,” said Stacey Hannem, a professor of criminology at Wilfrid Laurier University.
And, unlike the criminal justice system, civil litigation can provide direct help to the accuser in the form of damages.
On the flip side, filing an anonymous lawsuit can be seen by others — particularly the accused — as an attempt to extort or smear the accused without damaging the reputation of the plaintiff.
Lawyers for Combs, who has repeatedly denied all of the allegations against him, have characterized the wave of anonymous complaints as a “shameful money grab.”
In several of the sex abuse lawsuits filed against him, Combs has sought to have the anonymous accusers reveal themselves.
“Why should you have to say, ‘I was raped [and] put your name to it [when] you’re going to have to be tested in court anyway,” said Ann Olivarius, an attorney who specializes in sexual assault and discrimination cases.
The legal system is designed to thoroughly examine these cases to determine the legitimacy of the complaint and guard against false accusations, she added.
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