Tony Buzbee is the lawyer who represented an anonymous woman who accused Jay-Z of sexual assault, allegations she has since recanted. Now, the legal battle over alleged defamation and extortion between Jay and Buzbee continues, and may see the light of trial according to Billboard.
Reportedly, a California appeals court ruled on Thursday (October 1) that they would allow a lower court to order discovery in Jay-Z's lawsuit against Tony Buzbee and "reconsider its prior ruling based on any new evidence, should the court deem it appropriate." Previously, court authorities ruled Hov could not sue Buzbee again after a court dismissed his lawsuit over defamation and extortion last year.
The California appeals court did not reopen the case themselves and maintained their original ruling, but opened the door for a lower court to reevaluate and potentially reintroduce the lawsuit. Appeals court do not traditionally hear new evidence without its development in a lower court.
The Roc Nation mogul's attorney had previously argued that Jane Doe's admission to making false allegations should allow for the Tony Buzbee lawsuit to reopen. If an appeals court agrees with a trial court's approval in a discovery process, the legal battle could continue. Of course, just because a court allows a case to move forward does not mean it will automatically be successful for the party making the appeal.
Tony Buzbee & Jay-Z
"[The appeals court] denied the petition for rehearing and the request to consider Jane Doe’s new declaration without even requesting a response," Buzbee's lawyers reportedly stated. "The Court simply noted that the trial court retains its existing authority to consider new evidence if it chooses to do so. We are confident in the ruling and prepared to address whatever comes next."
Now, the Jay-Z and Tony Buzbee case will return to a lower court to see if more litigation follows. "We are pleased that the Court of Appeal has invited us to ask the Superior Court to order discovery and reconsider its prior ruling based on the recent declaration from Ms. Doe," Jeremy Rosen, a lawyer for Hov, reportedly stated. "We intend to proceed with that application as soon jurisdiction [returns] to the Superior Court."
Elsewhere, according to Reuters, Buzbee is still facing other legal issues with Roc Nation. He failed to dismiss a $25 million defamation suit from the Roc's lawyer Marcy Croft
