Legal Dispute: Sher Tremonte Seeks $582K Lien on Combs Defamation Proceeds
The firm filed a letter with Judge John P. Cronan on October 30, arguing that nearly $582,000 in unpaid fees are owed despite a recent withdrawal from the case.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been in a series of legal battles since his civil lawsuit against Courtney Burgess, Ariel Mitchell, and Nexstar entered the public eye. A new filing suggests the financial friction between the former pop icon and his former legal team is far from resolved.
Sher Tremonte LLP is formally requesting a court order to place a lien on $581,893.75. The firm submitted this demand in a letter to Judge John P. Cronan on October 30. The money represents fees for work the firm claims was performed but never compensated. If Combs secures a settlement or judgment in the ongoing defamation case, the lien would allow the firm to collect directly from those funds.
Michael Tremonte, of Sher Tremonte, filed a declaration under oath to support the specific figure. He included a sealed spreadsheet that itemizes the firm's billing rates and hours. The firm explained that it did not submit individual invoices because its representation of Combs covered dozens of distinct legal matters. This complexity made a single consolidated receipt impractical.
The dispute follows a contentious split in September. Sher Tremonte moved to withdraw as counsel, citing payment delays of more than six months. The firm also described a total breakdown in cooperation and communication with Combs. Judge Cronan approved the withdrawal and granted the firm a retaining lien on the case files while it documented the outstanding balance.
Combs has disputed the firm's characterization of the relationship. In a September statement to NBC News, he said he switched lawyers because he refused to let anyone take advantage of him by overcharging. He claimed the firm ran up bills he never approved. Tremonte rejected those claims, stating that any suggestion of overcharging was simply false.
This demand arrives just weeks after another financial blow to Combs. On October 6, Justice Phaedra F. Perry-Bond ordered Combs to pay $477,700.50 in legal fees to NBCUniversal and its co-defendants. That award stemmed from his loss in the defamation lawsuit regarding the documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.
Judge Cronan has not yet ruled on whether Sher Tremonte is entitled to the full $581,893.75. The judge must also decide if the firm will receive the requested lien. The outcome will determine how much of any future recovery from the Burgess, Mitchell, and Nexstar case Combs can retain.
