Sean “Diddy” Combs remains at the center of a major legal battle after a federal judge dismissed all claims against singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine but allowed several accusations against Combs to continue toward trial. The ruling came from U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang, who reviewed a $20 million lawsuit filed by Clayton Howard, a former male escort. Howard had accused both Combs and Ventura of involvement in human trafficking, abuse, and other misconduct that allegedly took place over several years. The judge removed Ventura from the case entirely. Court records showed that Howard failed to provide enough evidence to support his claims against the singer. As a result, all allegations against Ventura were dismissed with prejudice, meaning those specific claims cannot be filed again. According to court documents, the judge found that Howard did not present a clear example of a nonconsensual incident involving Ventura that fell within the legal time limits required for the case. The ruling noted that Howard had acknowledged participating in paid and consensual encounters for many years before later describing them as trafficking-related events. Howard filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California during 2025. He named Combs, Ventura, Bad Boy Records, and Combs Enterprises LLC as defendants. Acting without a lawyer while studying law, Howard alleged that he was transported across the country for roughly a decade beginning in 2009. The lawsuit claimed that Combs arranged travel, isolated Howard in hotel rooms, and subjected him to conditions that Howard described as trafficking. Howard also alleged that Ventura encouraged drug use and engaged in conduct that caused physical and emotional harm. Those allegations against Ventura were not proven in court. The judge determined that the claims lacked sufficient legal support and dismissed them permanently. Ventura has denied wrongdoing, and the court ruling clears her from the lawsuit. Ventura’s legal team argued that the case should be dismissed because Howard had multiple opportunities to present evidence and failed to establish a valid claim. Her attorneys also noted that many of the facts cited in the lawsuit were already known before the case was filed. The defense further argued that the timing of the lawsuit followed public attention surrounding Ventura’s earlier legal settlement with Combs. Lawyers for Ventura maintained that the claims against her had no legal basis. While Ventura is no longer part of the case, the legal fight involving Combs is continuing. Judge Hwang allowed several claims to move forward, including federal and California human trafficking allegations tied to conduct that allegedly occurred after June 2015. The judge dismissed four of the eight original claims filed by Howard. Those dismissed claims included a civil racketeering claim, a Florida trafficking claim that was filed after the legal deadline, and two claims based on federal criminal statutes that private citizens cannot use as the basis for civil lawsuits. The remaining claims will now proceed through the legal process and could eventually be heard at trial unless a settlement or other court action occurs before then. Combs has denied the allegations made against him in the lawsuit. His representatives have not publicly commented on the latest ruling. The ongoing case follows a series of legal challenges for the music executive. In July 2025, Combs was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges in a separate criminal case. However, he was found guilty on two counts related to transporting individuals for prostitution. Later that year, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced Combs to 50 months in prison, imposed a $500,000 fine, and ordered five years of supervised release. Combs is currently appealing both the conviction and the sentence. Ventura has also played a significant role in legal actions involving Combs. In 2023, she filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape and years of physical abuse. That case was settled within one day. During Combs’ criminal trial in 2025, Ventura testified that she received a $20 million settlement from Combs and related companies. Legal observers believe Ventura’s lawsuit helped draw attention to allegations that later became part of a federal investigation. That investigation eventually led to Combs’ arrest in September 2024. The latest ruling marks a major legal victory for Ventura while leaving Combs facing several serious claims that remain active in federal court. The case is expected to continue as both sides prepare for the next stage of litigation.