Jay-Z’s Extortion & Defamation Lawsuit Against Attorney Tony Buzbee Dismissed, Judge Says ‘Selling Silence For Money In The Civil Context Is Not Extortion’

Jay-Z’s Extortion & Defamation Lawsuit Against Attorney Tony Buzbee Dismissed, Judge Says ‘Selling Silence For Money In The Civil Context Is Not Extortion’

Jay-Z’s lawsuit against attorney Tony Buzbee has been thrown out.

A California judge has dismissed the rapper’s claims that Buzbee attempted to extort him by sending threatening demand letters and knowingly defaming him in a lawsuit tied to a rape allegation after he refused to pay.

In the ruling, Judge Mark Epstein said he wasn’t “wholly satisfied” with the decision but ultimately concluded the evidence didn’t meet the legal threshold. He continued:

“Selling silence as to law enforcement for money is extortion, but there is no promise of silence in the criminal context here. And selling silence for money in the civil context is not extortion; it is a settlement with a non-disclosure element.”

 

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Jay-Z’s lawyer Alex Spiro responded to the decision, saying:

“We are surprised and disappointed by this ruling… What does it say about our justice system if someone can knowingly bring about completely false claims of the most heinous nature imaginable against an innocent individual and get away with it on a technicality?

Buzbee celebrated the dismissal on X, writing:

“Yet another huge win!!”

Jay-Z has vowed to appeal the ruling.

Thoughts? 

[VIA]