Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Co-Defendant UMGR Seeks to Bar Plaintiff from Obtaining Extension over Alleged Rape of 16-Year-Old

UMGR is looking to stop accuser Liza Gardner's lawyer from receiving additional time to respond to the motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Combs raped her in 1990

Sean “Diddy” Combs' co-defendant has filed to bar the rapper's accuser Liza Gardner — who previously alleged that she was “physically forced into having sex with" the rapper "against her will" when she was a 16-year-old minor in 1990 — and her lawyer from obtaining an extension. The two would like more time to respond to a recent motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

In a letter submitted to the New York County Courthouse on Monday, April 29, an attorney for UMG Recordings, Inc., Lisa Linsky, wrote that the group "opposes" the request from Gardner's attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, "for an extension of time" past the April 25 deadline "to oppose UMGR's motion to dismiss the amended complaint," the latter of which was filed on April 11.

Among the reasonings given from the defendant's attorney, Linsky alleged in the letter, "While Mr. Blackburn claims his 'client needs additional time to gather her documents and affidavits from the witnesses,' there is no colorable ground on which additional documents or 'affidavits from the witnesses' could change the fatal defect in the amended complaint — namely, Plaintiff’s age at the time of the alleged conduct."

The letter concludes, "UMGR communicated to Mr. Blackburn that the complaint was deficient as a matter of law and urged him to discontinue the action against UMGR. And while Mr. Blackburn has chosen not to discontinue the action against UMGR, this Court can and should deny his request for an extension to bring these frivolous proceedings and should dismiss this matter before any more resources are spent by the Court and UMGR. Accordingly, UMGR respectfully requests that Mr. Blackburn’s extension request be denied."

Linsky did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.

Related: A Timeline of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Sexual Assault Allegations and Lawsuits

Gardner initially accused Combs and his friend Aaron Hall of rape in a November lawsuit. She filed her amended complaint on March 12 in New York County Supreme Court, where she claimed that the age of consent for sexual intercourse in 1990, when the alleged assault happened, was 17 years old.

She previously alleged in November that Combs and Hall took turns raping her and a friend after meeting them at an event at MCA Records’ New York office.

While the original complaint said Gardner was “coerced” into having sex with Combs, the amended version says she was “physically forced into having sex with" the music mogul "against her will” — and that because she was a minor, she was not able to consent to drinking the alcohol allegedly given to her by the two men.

“At the time Combs assaulted Ms. Gardner, she recalls feeling the side effects of the alcohol,” the complaint says. “She recalls Combs mounting her, and forcing up her skirt, pulling her underwear to the side and forcefully penetrating her.”

As included in the original complaint, Gardner alleges that afterwards, as she got dressed, Hall “barged into the room, pinned her down and forced” her to have sex with him. The suit also claims that Combs turned violent days after the alleged assault, and allegedly assaulted and choked Gardner until she passed out.

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Related: What Do Diddy's Sex Trafficking Accusations Mean? A Legal Expert Explains

A representative for Combs could not be reached for comment at the time of the amended complaint, though Combs previously denied Gardner's claims in a statement when she filed in November.

“These are fabricated claims falsely alleging misconduct from over 30 years ago and filed at the last minute. This is nothing but a money grab. Because of Mr. Combs’ fame and success, he is an easy target for anonymous accusers who lie without conscience or consequence for financial benefit,” a spokesperson said in a statement at the time. “The New York Legislature surely did not intend or expect the Adult Survivors Act to be exploited by scammers. The public should be skeptical and not rush to accept these bogus allegations.”

Hall could not be reached for comment.

Combs is facing at least five sexual-assault lawsuits, all of which he has denied. The allegations include the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old in 2003, and the alleged drugging and sexual assault of Joi Dickerson Neal in 1991. He also recently filed to dismiss certain claims made against him in the latter case, on Friday, April 26.

The musician was also accused of sexual misconduct, harassment, sex trafficking and rape by ex-girlfriend Cassie, though the two reached a settlement one day after she filed a lawsuit against him.

“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy," Combs said in a statement provided to PEOPLE in December 2023. "Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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