EXCLUSIVE: Cassie Wins Dismissal From Freak-Off Worker’s $35M Lawsuit

Cassie is out of Clayton Howard’s $35 million lawsuit after a judge dismissed the former escort’s claims against her.

Judge Anne Hwang granted the singer’s request on October 21 in Los Angeles, while keeping the case alive against Diddy.

“Defendant Ventura’s motion to dismiss is hereby granted; this will be the order as stated on the record,” the court minutes read.

Howard used the name Dave while working as a male escort and brought his suit against the pair in June 2025.

He alleged Cassie arranged sessions Diddy directed and accused them of using drugs and coercion to exploit him during paid encounters.

Howard’s claims involved sessions in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, with Howard alleging the encounters caused lasting harm.

Bad Boy Entertainment LLC and CeOpco LLC had also sought dismissal, but Judge Hwang granted only part of their request.

Judge Hwang gave Howard 14 days to amend his claims. Cassie’s attorneys had challenged Howard’s amended claims, saying he failed to connect her acts to sex he performed through threats, deception or force.

They pointed to his account of repeated cash payments and return visits, arguing those details undermined his portrayal of Cassie as his trafficker.

The defense also argued Howard’s own complaint described Diddy’s violence and control over Cassie, including his power to decide when the encounters ended.

“These defects are not curable by better drafting or any reframing of the facts,” her lawyers argued in their August brief.

A July ruling had let Howard try again, and he submitted the fifth rewrite of his lawsuit August 3. Howard then asked to swap in another proposed rewrite that removed his claim of 12 hours of confinement in Miami.

Judge Hwang rejected that bid to swap documents, which Howard had made before the court heard the dismissal requests.

The court separately said it would consider Howard’s request to file an additional response to Diddy’s and the companies’ arguments.

Under the October 21 order, Diddy’s deadline to answer falls on November 4, 14 days after Judge Hwang issued the ruling.