Sean “Diddy” Combs has secured an early win in his legal battle against Diageo after claiming that the company was unwilling to provide equal treatment to its Black partners.
The victory comes after Combs Wine and Spirits – the company responsible for the Ciroc Vodka and DeLeón Tequila brands – filed a lawsuit in New York’s Supreme Court against Diageo.
On Thursday, Judge Joel M. Cohen of the Supreme Court of New York for the County of New York denied Diageo’s request to dismiss the lawsuit and its motion to compel the case into arbitration.
With Diageo’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit being denied, Combs can now initiate the process, as stated by his attorney John Hueston, of gathering evidence to substantiate his allegation that Diageo did not provide the same level of support to the Ciroc Vodka and DeLéon Tequila brands as it did for its other brands.
Hueston said: “This case has always been about getting fair and equal treatment. Today’s decision is an important step in the right direction. Diageo tried to end this action. Today the judge soundly rejected that effort.”
Diageo commented: “While we are disappointed with today’s procedural decision, it is important to underscore that this is not a ruling on the merits of the claims, which we maintain are false and baseless”.
