A California federal judge has dismissed singer Cassie Ventura from Clayton Howard's lawsuit tied to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ alleged “freak off” parties, ruling that Howard cannot refile his claims against her. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang, dismissed with prejudice Howard's racketeering, sex trafficking, and human trafficking allegations against Ventura, according to legal documents reviewed by the Daily Mail.
Judge Dismisses Howard's Claims Against Ventura with Prejudice
Howard filed the lawsuit last year, accusing Ventura of misconduct during her involvement with Diddy. He alleged that Ventura “directly solicited” him to travel across state lines for commercial sexual encounters and that she and Diddy paid him for sex over eight years starting in 2009. Ventura denied the allegations, and Judge Hwang ultimately ruled in her favor, barring Howard from refiling any claims against her.
However, the judge permitted Howard to amend part of his broader lawsuit against Combs within two weeks, allowing that portion of the case to proceed.
Howard's Allegations and Ventura's Denial
In his lawsuit, Howard described Ventura and Diddy as “toxic individuals” who had “no regard for others or the law.” He claimed that Ventura was “not merely a victim” but actively participated with Diddy and “willingly manipulated and exploited others.” According to his filings, Ventura pressured him to use illegal drugs, participate in unprotected sex, and engage in acts that left him emotionally scarred.
Howard further alleged that Ventura recorded sexual encounters without consent, “showed no mercy,” and engaged in nonconsensual acts “during her menstrual cycle against his will.” He also claimed that Ventura convinced him to take MDMA “to lower his inhibitions and facilitate sexual exploitation.” Howard asserted that Diddy and Ventura used him “to satisfy their sexual fetishes and personal ambitions.”
Ventura’s legal team consistently denied all allegations, and the judge found no merit in Howard’s claims against her.
Psychological Trauma and Public Threats
Howard stated that he experienced lasting psychological trauma from his alleged interactions with Ventura and Diddy. He also addressed the matter publicly in a TikTok video, accusing Ventura and her legal team of conducting “a dedicated campaign to try to discredit me, stalk me, and harass me.” He criticized Ventura’s motion to dismiss, arguing that her attorneys focused on the age of the allegations rather than their substance.
According to TMZ, Ventura later requested court intervention after Howard threatened her in social media posts, stating, “B----, I’m going to burn you with fire.” He allegedly called her a “w----” and said, “You want to play stupid games, you can win stupid prizes.” Ventura’s attorneys accused Howard of harassing and intimidating their client as part of a public campaign.
Ventura's Relocation and Venue Request
USA Today reported that Ventura disclosed in a May 1 court declaration that she no longer lives in the United States. She requested that the case be moved from California to New York because travel would be more convenient for her. “I am not a resident of the State of California,” Ventura stated in the filing. “I reside outside of the United States. I do not intend to move back to the United States.” Ventura did not disclose her current country of residence.
Ongoing Case Against Diddy
While Ventura has been dismissed from the lawsuit, Howard’s claims against Diddy remain active. The judge has given Howard two weeks to amend his complaint against Combs. The case continues to attract significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the parties involved and the serious allegations of trafficking and exploitation.
