Jay-Z has taken a authorized hit in his ongoing battle with Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee. On Monday, a Los Angeles County choose dismissed the rapper’s extortion and defamation lawsuit—although the choice is probably not the ultimate phrase.

Decide Mark Epstein dominated in opposition to Jay-Z, authorized identify Shawn Carter, however acknowledged the complexity of the case. “There isn’t any demand for a specific sum of cash,” the choose wrote, declaring that the mediation request on the middle of the dispute targeted solely on sexual abuse claims that had been a part of a doable civil swimsuit. He emphasised there was no indication that Buzbee threatened to go to regulation enforcement if Carter didn’t comply. That sort of risk would have turned the state of affairs into clear extortion.

Whereas Epstein admitted “the alleged conduct right here constitutes legal exercise,” he defined that promoting silence in a civil matter isn’t essentially extortion. “Promoting silence as to regulation enforcement for cash is extortion, however there isn’t any promise of silence within the legal context right here,” he wrote. “And promoting silence for cash within the civil context just isn’t extortion; it’s a settlement with a non-disclosure component.”

Buzbee beforehand represented an nameless girl who accused Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her when she was 13. After the case was dropped, Jay-Z filed swimsuit in opposition to Buzbee, alleging extortion.

In a press release to Rolling Stone, Carter’s lawyer Alex Spiro expressed disappointment. He stated the ruling was based mostly on a misreading of California regulation. He added that the choose even admitted the ruling may need gone the opposite means had sure proof been admitted. “We’re stunned and dissatisfied by this ruling,” Spiro stated, confirming they’ll attraction.