A federal judge has dismissed the majority of a lawsuit filed by singer Dawn Richard against music executive Sean Combs, ruling that most of her claims were barred by statutes of limitations. The case pertained to allegations of abuse and mistreatment that Ms. Richard said she endured while working for Mr. Combs.

Ms. Richard, a former member of the groups Danity Kane and Diddy – Dirty Money, both assembled by Mr. Combs, initiated the lawsuit in 2024. She accused Mr. Combs of creating a hostile work environment in which he allegedly ordered her to strip down to her underwear, subjected her to unwanted physical contact, threw objects including laptops and food, deprived her of sleep, and at times failed to compensate her for her work.

In a ruling issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla of Manhattan dismissed claims related to assault, battery, employment discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and copyright infringement. The judge noted that the conduct Ms. Richard described took place between 2011 and 2012, and that she did not allege any wrongful acts by Mr. Combs in the 12 or 13 years before filing suit. As a result, the court found these claims were time-barred under federal law.

Although the federal claims were dismissed, the judge allowed the possibility for Ms. Richard to pursue a remaining claim under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law. This statute creates a two-year window for plaintiffs to bring lawsuits for older allegations of gender-motivated violence. The applicability of this law to older claims is currently under review by the New York Court of Appeals.

Ms. Richard’s lawyer, Arick Fudali, said on Monday that they intend to continue litigation in state court and remain committed to seeking justice for their client. “We intend to continue to fight for Dawn until justice is achieved,” he said.

A spokesperson for Mr. Combs expressed satisfaction with the dismissal. Judd Engelmayer called the allegations “purely fictional” and said they were pleased with the court’s ruling.

Mr. Combs is currently serving a federal prison sentence in New Jersey after being convicted last year in New York on charges related to the transportation of individuals for prostitution. He was acquitted of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, and his legal team is appealing the conviction and sentence. In addition to this lawsuit, Mr. Combs faces multiple civil suits accusing him of sexual assault, all of which he denies.

During his criminal trial, Ms. Richard testified about witnessing Mr. Combs’s alleged physical abuse of Casandra Ventura, a key witness for the prosecution. Her state court claims under the Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law include allegations that Mr. Combs struck her buttocks and touched her breasts without permission, allegedly suggesting he would pay for breast augmentation surgery.

Mr. Combs’s lawyers have challenged the constitutionality of the New York City law that permits older claims to be brought forward, arguing that the retroactive window established by the city council is invalid. The outcome of that legal question remains pending before the state’s highest court.