TMZ.com

Diddy's former employee Rodney Jones will have to refile his lawsuit against Cuba Gooding Jr. and Justin Combs if he wants to pursue legal action ... because the case has been dismissed due to failure to serve them papers.

The case was dismissed Tuesday morning ... with the court pointing to Jones' attorney Tyrone Blackburn's inability to effectively serve the two stars as the main reasons for the dismissal without prejudice.

According to the docs, Blackburn waited until the service deadline was imminent before making any meaningful efforts to serve them ... and failed to show any good reason for failing to get it done. Jones' lawsuit was filed back in February 2024.

Jay-Z has a new beef with his Jane Doe accuser -- even though she's dropped her lawsuit, he says she's on social media bragging she stands by her allegation he raped her.

Jay just filed an amendment to the defamation suit he filed against her and her attorney, Tony Buzbee. In the new docs, he calls out a TikTok she allegedly posted last month featuring some pretty angry lip-synched audio -- "You couldn't pay me a million dollars to get an apology video out of me, I stand on what I said, f*** you."

According to the suit, Doe publicly standing by her original claim she was raped "continues to display a shocking and reckless disregard for the truth that is both intentional and malicious."

Diddy has added a second Black attorney to his team of legal eagles ... because he just hired Nicole Westmoreland to work with his seven other lawyers to try to get him acquitted at his federal trial in NYC.

Westmoreland will work alongside another Black attorney, Xavier Robert Donaldson, and Diddy's leading trial lawyers Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, who are both white.

Having two African American lawyers on Diddy's legal team is an interesting move, considering that his camp pointed to race as a major factor in what they say is a federal takedown of a rich, successful Black man.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is getting extra guidance in court from famed attorney Mark Geragos, but federal prosecutors ain't having it -- because Geragos doesn't have clearance to participate, and frequently discusses the case on his podcast, "2 Angry Men."

Geragos was in court for the first day of jury selection in Diddy's criminal trial -- seated somewhere behind the 7 attorneys Diddy has retained, all of whom have court clearance to defend him.

But, prosecutors say they noticed Geragos and other members of his firm, consulting with the defense team, and they think that's a party foul due to his side gig. In a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, they cite a rule barring anyone associated with the defense from making public statements that could "interfere with a fair trial."

Federal prosecutors are under pressure relating to one of their star witnesses in the Diddy trial ... because they revealed in court today they may not be bringing an alleged victim into the courtroom to testify.

The alleged victim in question is a woman and the feds revealed Monday the woman does not live close to New York City, where the trial is being held, and they say she's told the court she might not even show up despite being subpoenaed.

Prosecutors claim they are having difficulty contacting the woman and her attorney ... and the judge asked lead prosecutor Maurene Comey if the prosecution planned to drop the woman's name in opening statements.

The first day of jury selection in the Diddy sex trafficking trial is in the books ... and there were a few standouts ... including one prospective juror who said Joe Rogan turned them on to Diddy parties.

The juror told the judge they heard about Diddy parties involving sex and drugs on an episode of Joe's podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience" ... but the juror was not excluded.

Another highlight ... Juror No. 20 was caught shoplifting from Universal Studios ... and he told the judge he had to get a lawyer after busted trying to get a five-finger discount on a wand from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Diddy is no O.J. Simpson ... at least as it pertains to one significant aspect of their trials.

TMZ has learned ... there are currently NO plans to sequester the jury in the Diddy sex trafficking trial in NYC.

We obtained the questionnaire sent out to potential jurors, with jury selection beginning Monday, and it tells them, "There are no plans to sequester the jury, which means you will go home every day after court."

Diddy's got all sorts of emotions as jury selection begins in his sex trafficking trial ... and he sounds anxious.

The Bad Boy Records founder is in court as potential jurors are questioned by the judge ... and at one point Diddy spoke up to reveal some of the nerves he's feeling.

Diddy told the judge, "I'm sorry your honor, I'm a little nervous today."

Diddy is already facing off with prosecutors in his sex trafficking trial that kicked off Monday in an NYC courtroom ... but he may also have to stare down several accusers who have filed civil lawsuits against him, TMZ has learned.

Florida-based attorney Ariel Mitchell -- who represents 3 of Diddy's alleged victims in civil cases and potentially a fourth -- says she might fly up to the Big Apple to attend the music mogul's federal criminal trial ... with her clients.

As you know, Diddy is on trial for allegedly committing a slew of crimes, including racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He's also accused of forcing women to engage in "Freak Offs" ... marathon sex sessions that include male sex workers, according to federal prosecutors.

On the first day of the Diddy trial, the judge is asking prospective jurors about their celebrity knowledge and their own personal backgrounds, based on answers to a lengthy questionnaire each has already filled out ... and one candidate has an occupation and a family relation that could affect both sides of the case.

In a packed NYC courthouse Monday morning, federal judge Arun Subramanian began questioning possible jurors -- and Juror No. 2's job is particularly interesting in the context of Diddy's alleged crimes ... as is his sister's relationship past.

Juror 2 happens to be a massage therapist -- who probably knows a thing or two about baby oil, which will play a HUGE role in the Diddy case. As you know, Diddy bought baby oil in bulk to use during his "Freak Offs," which are marathon sexual encounters between Diddy, his girlfriends and a male escort, according to a federal indictment.

Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page isn't showing a songwriter a whole lotta love over one of the band's classic hits, and now he's dragging the guitarist into federal court.

A guy named Jake Holmes filed the suit against James Patrick Page -- yeah, that's his full name -- over "Dazed and Confused" ... the song Zeppelin dropped back in '69. In the docs, Holmes says it's already been legally established that he is the copyright holder on the track -- he and Page reached a settlement in 2011.

Holmes says he noticed something awry with the new IMAX documentary, "Becoming Led Zeppelin," which was released earlier this year -- the film credits say Page wrote 'Dazed' and Holmes only "inspired" it, but Holmes says that's patently false.

The first day of the federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs began this morning with some lighthearted comments by the judge ... who mentions Diddy's various nicknames over the years, and nods to the size of the potential jury pool and the length of the questionnaire each individual filled out.

As proceedings got formally underway, Judge Arun Subramanian made a remark comparing the size of the list of prospective jurors that both sides will question on the stand -- and the questionnaire of people and places in the case -- to the famously vast "Lord of the Rings" trilogy of novels.

As you know, there are many challenges on both sides for jury selection, which is expected to take several days.

Jury selection just kicked off in Diddy's federal trial, and it’s a total madhouse -- with some people getting paid just to stand in line for others to snag spots inside the courthouse.

We caught the chaos at the federal courthouse in Manhattan on Monday -- some folks told us they had been in line since the night before, saving spots for people who paid them to do the heavy lifting.

One line-holder told us he was getting $32 per hour to hold a place in line, though he admitted the going rate is more like $25 per hour. Any bit of extra income helps with inflation, particularly in Manhattan! Another clip on X showed just how absurd the line was to get into the courthouse for the jury selection ... so paying someone to save a spot makes sense.

Karen Read looks to be taking her retrial for murder in stride ... appearing relaxed after a recent court appearance -- having a drink and chatting with strangers.

TMZ has obtained photos of Read at SAVR, a bistro in Boston's Seaport District -- not long after she finished up another week of her retrial on Friday.

Eyewitnesses tell us Read was with her legal team -- including powerhouse defense attorney Alan Jackson ... who we're told flattered everyone in the bar, working the room and schmoozing like a pro.

Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper Wanda Barzee may or may not be smiling after her arrest on Thursday ... but there’s no doubt she was one happy camper posing for her mugshot for Utah’s Sex Offender Registry.

TMZ has obtained the photo of Barzee from the registry -- and the convicted criminal could not have looked more jovial. Check out her big fat grin, showing off her yellow-stained teeth.

She also flashes her wild eyes and messy white hair with moles on her face and neck. The registry lists, among other things, her height, weight and 11 aliases along with details about her federal conviction for abducting Smart.

Diddy's defense team is starting to take shape on the eve of his federal criminal trial ... and he's got some accomplished legal minds on his side.

The Bad Boy Records founder is rocking with Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos as his lead attorneys ... and Marc's been at the center of some high-profile cases.

Agnifilo previously defended NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere, "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli, IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Khan and Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng.

Geragos is a partner at Marc's firm ... and she worked with him on the Raniere case.