Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers have filed a motion seeking to withdraw from his $100 million defamation lawsuit, citing alleged unpaid legal fees and a breakdown in communication.
Attorneys from Sher Tremonte LLP filed the motion on September 14, asking to be removed as counsel in Combs’ civil case against accuser Courtney Burgess and attorney Ariel Mitchell.
The lawyers alleged that Combs “has not paid a substantial balance of attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses; and Sher Tremonte’s representation has been rendered unreasonably difficult by Mr. Combs’s lack of cooperation and communication, resulting in a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship.”
The motion, filed by Michael Tremonte, Erica Wolff and Katie Renzler, also claimed Combs had not made payments to the firm in “over six months”, with his latest payment reportedly covering fees and expenses incurred in late 2025.
Combs disputed the allegations through his representative, Juda Engelmayer. “I made the decision to switch lawyers because I won’t let anyone take advantage of me by overcharging me and running up bills that were never approved,” the statement read. “This is strictly a business matter, and any talk about unpaid fees is just part of our dispute over those unapproved charges.”
The legal development comes shortly after a judge denied a motion to dismiss the defamation case on September 4.
Combs initially sought $50 million in damages in January 2025, but later amended the lawsuit to seek $100 million.
The case remains open, with no trial date set.