A judge ruled on Thursday, Dec. 26, that a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000, when she was just 13, is not required to disclose her identity.
A woman, using the pseudonym Jane Doe, has come forward with allegations that she was raped following her transportation to an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards 24 years prior. Initially, she filed a lawsuit against Combs in October, and two months later, she revised her complaint to include Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter.
Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, has taken action by submitting a motion to dismiss the complaint, arguing that it should be thrown out unless the accuser discloses her identity. On Thursday, the motion was denied by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.
“Carter’s lawyer’s relentless filing of combative motions containing inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks is inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client,” wrote Judge Torres in her ruling, per court docs obtained by PEOPLE.
“The Court will not fast-track the judicial process merely because counsel demands it,” Judge Torres added.
She pointed out that Jay-Z’s lawyer Spiro expressed his intention to promptly file the motion to strike the amended complaint, yet he did not provide Doe with the necessary five days to respond.
“This is unacceptable,” wrote Judge Analisa Torres.
“The coordinated and desperate efforts to attack me as counsel for alleged victims are falling flat,” Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing Jay-Z’s accuser tells PEOPLE.
In a prior court submission, Spiro requested that the judge mandate the woman to “disclose her identity if she wishes to proceed with the lawsuit,” according to the Associated Press.
Spiro stated, “Mr. Carter deserves to know the identity of the person who is effectively accusing him — in sensationalized, publicity-hunting fashion — of criminal conduct, demanding massive financial compensation, and tarnishing a reputation earned over decades,” as reported by the AP.
During an interview with NBC News on Dec. 13, the individual making the allegations admitted to having “made mistakes” and noted that her memory of the event contains “inconsistencies.” Nonetheless, she maintains her claims that Combs and Jay-Z purportedly assaulted her.
“You should always advocate for yourself and be a voice for yourself,” the now 38-year-old woman told NBC News. “You should never let what somebody else did ruin or run your life. I just hope I can give others the strength to come forward like I came forward.”