A civil lawsuit filed by Liza Gardner accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs and singer Aaron Hall of sexual assault has cleared an early procedural hurdle after months of delay. Gardner alleges the assault occurred in 1990 throughout an MCA Records–associated occasion, when she was 16 years previous. The lawsuit was filed in April 2024. Progress within the case had been slowed by difficulties finding Hall.

Gardner’s attorneys mentioned they made repeated makes an attempt to serve Hall with court docket papers, together with public notices and using a non-public investigator. Those efforts succeeded on February 2, 2024, when a course of server positioned Hall at a motel in Alpharetta, Georgia. The service was accomplished shortly earlier than midday, based on court docket filings. It marked the primary confirmed supply of authorized paperwork to Hall within the case.

AllHipHop‘s exclusive report describes the encounter in detail. The process server, Andrew Drake, identified Hall at approximately 11:58 a.m. After checking with the motel’s entrance desk, Drake went to Hall’s room to ship the paperwork. What adopted, based on the account, was transient however tense.

Drake informed Hall he had authorized paperwork to serve. Hall refused, saying, “I ain’t doing that,” and tried to shut the door. The server then positioned the papers at Hall’s toes earlier than the door shut. The alternate ended with out additional incident.

Court Records Detail Service in Combs Civil Case

Witnesses described Hall as sporting a tan hoodie with the phrases “Always Thinking Big,” a phrase related to the late rapper Biggie Smalls. He was additionally described as having a white beard and sporting a black durag. No bodily confrontation was reported. The service was documented as full underneath civil process guidelines.

Gardner’s lawsuit is a part of a broader wave of sexual misconduct claims introduced towards Combs lately, lots of which have named people from his early skilled circle. Hall is known as as a co-defendant on this case. Both males have denied the allegations. No legal prices have been introduced.

Court filings make clear that earlier difficulties serving Hall didn’t contain legislation enforcement or a lacking individuals investigation. The challenge was procedural, not legal. As the case strikes ahead, extra filings and responses are anticipated. Combs has publicly denied the claims and has mentioned he intends to contest them in court docket.