Did Jay-Z admit to the guilt? His lawyers shift tactic on rape lawsuit by victim Jane Doe, say the case was filed under GMV Act which can't be applied retroactively

The lawyers for JAY-Z change their strategy and assert that Jane Doe's rape claim is too old to pursue. In an effort to counter the recent accusations of sexual assault made against him, JAY-Z's legal team is working nonstop. In a pre-motion letter submitted on Monday, December 30, the legal team argued that Jane Doe's lawsuit, which accuses him of raping a minor in 2000 with Sean Diddy Combs, is too old to pursue.

Does the GMV Act Apply to This Case?

The Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act (GMV) was the legal basis for the claim. According to USA Today, JAY-Z's attorney Alex Spiro contended that the Act is not retroactive, meaning it does not cover incidents that occurred prior to its passage.

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The Act was enacted in December, three months after the alleged September event mentioned in the lawsuit, even though it was passed in 2000, the year Jane Doe alleges the incident occurred.

Allowing the lawsuit to proceed would violate both state and federal due process protections, according to Spiro.

According to the Roc-A-Fella co-founder's team, the GMV accuser must provide evidence that the alleged assault took place in New York City. Spiro believes the assault did not occur in New York City because Jane Doe was driven 20 minutes from Radio City Music Hall to an estate with a U-shaped driveway, according to the details in her lawsuit.

The Bad Boy founder was named as a defendant in the initial October 2024 rape lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York. JAY-Z was added when it was refiled in December.

Both sides have released statements, with Hov's response referring to lawyer Tony Buzbee as an ambulance chaser in a cheap suit and someone who exploits people for personal gain.

The alleged victim has been diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a seizure disorder related to the stress of her sexual assault, making her particularly vulnerable to the possible harms of disclosure, according to Torres.

FAQs

What is Jay-Z's legal team saying about the GMV Act?
They argue that the Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act cannot be applied retroactively to alleged events before its enactment in December 2000.

Can Jane Doe remain anonymous during the lawsuit?
For the time being, a judge has granted Jane Doe the right to keep her identity private due to her vulnerability and associated health issues, but this may change as the case proceeds.