Puffy's Punishment

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (P. Daddy Fans Website) - Sean Combs has been ordered to pay $450,000 US in damages to a man who claims two of Puffy's bodyguards beat him up at a 1995 Mary J. Blige concert.
The ruling is being considered a mixed victory by Combs and his lawyer.

Initially, the judge ordered the head of Bad Boy Entertainment to pay the claimant, Cedrick Bobby Lemon, $2.45 million US after Combs failed to respond to Lemon's allegations by a certain deadline. The judge reduced Puffy's sentencing because he felt there wasn't enough factual evidence in the case for him to consider P. Diddy's worth and previous conduct.

"We prevailed and have overturned the $2 million award," says Nathalie Moar, a spokesperson for Puffy. "As Mr. Combs had nothing to do with this, we will be taking steps to have the remaining judgment dismissed."
Combs or his attorneys had until July 30 to file a response to Lemon's complaint. Wood said he reduced the judgment Tuesday because the case required "a more detailed finding of fact and law to consider such things as defendant's net worth and prior conduct."

The 33-year-old chief executive officer of Bad Boy Entertainment is worth $231 million, according to Fortune magazine. Nathalie Moar, a spokeswoman for Combs, said Wood's ruling was a victory.
Neither Lemon nor his attorney, Herman Stephens of Winston-Salem, could be reached for comment.