Sean Diddy Combs secured a partial legal victory after a judge dismissed several major claims in a lawsuit filed by former music producer Rodney Jones, also known as Lil Rod. Jones had accused the hip-hop mogul of sexual assault along with other allegations.

According to court documents, the judge struck down five out of the nine claims presented in the lawsuit including racketeering (RICO) infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract. Additionally, a claim filed under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act against Diddy’s company Combs Global was dismissed. These dismissals mark a significant reduction in the scope of the case weakening some of Jones’ legal arguments.

The ruling also included harsh criticism of Jones’ attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn. The judge called out the quality of his legal filings stating that they failed to properly distinguish between this civil case and Diddy’s separate grand jury indictment on criminal charges. This critique suggests that some of the legal strategies employed by Jones’ team may have been flawed from the outset.

However, despite these setbacks, the lawsuit is far from over. The judge ruled that the core sexual assault allegations against Diddy would proceed, meaning that the case could still lead to a trial. The ruling allows Jones and his legal team to move forward with discovery, the process of gathering evidence and witness testimonies.

In response to the ruling, Blackburn remained defiant. He stated,

“Yeah, a win is a win. Playtime is over—we look forward to discovery. I hope the defendants are ready.”

With the case still unfolding, Diddy’s legal team may continue to fight the remaining claims, while Jones prepares for the next phase of the legal battle.