EXCLUSIVE: Diddy Has Four Weeks To Decide If He Will Represent Himself In Battle With Lil Rod

Sean “Diddy” Combs has four weeks to find new lawyers for Rodney Jones’ civil suit or tell the court he will represent himself after Sher Tremonte won permission to leave the case.

Jones, the producer known as “Lil Rod,” sued Diddy in 2024 over alleged studio misconduct that Diddy denied.

Judge J. Paul Oetken based the ruling on the firm’s reasons in its September request.

“On September 24, 2026, counsel for Defendant Sean Combs moved to withdraw as his counsel, citing nonpayment of legal fees and a breakdown of communication with Combs,” Judge Oetken wrote.

Neither Diddy nor Jones opposed the withdrawal request, Judge Oetken wrote. He found good cause to allow the firm to withdraw. The order did not state how much Diddy allegedly owed.

“Within four weeks of the date of this Order, Combs shall have new counsel appear or file a letter stating that he will appear pro se (that is, representing himself) with contact information.”

The case had narrowed before the lawyers left. Extra covered an earlier ruling that dismissed Jones’ racketeering claims.

The change comes as Jones tries to have Diddy’s counterclaims thrown out. Those are the claims Diddy brought against Jones in the same suit. Jones filed that request on September 17, and Diddy had not filed a response as of October 22.

Diddy had been given until October 30 to oppose Jones’ motion. Judge Oetken had said he might allow more time when he ruled on the firm’s request to leave. The judge has now moved that deadline to December 4.

“If Combs does not file an opposition by December 4, 2026, the Court will construe Plaintiff’s motion as unopposed,” the judge wrote.

That warning applies to Jones’ bid to throw out Diddy’s claims. Judge Oetken did not grant that request or rule on whether the claims should stand.

Sher Tremonte must also get the ruling to its former client within seven days. The judge directed the firm to email it to Diddy’s power of attorney and send it by USPS Priority Mail to his current facility address.

The order also directed the clerk to remove Love Records and Combs Global Enterprises as parties from the docket. The judge had already dismissed all claims against those companies in an earlier ruling. He now ordered the docket to reflect that decision.