A California judge has fully dismissed Jay-Z’s high-profile lawsuit against Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, ending, for now, the rapper’s effort to pursue claims of extortion and defamation. But if Judge Mark Epstein’s 65-page ruling made anything clear, it’s that this case is far from simple and likely far from over.

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter initially filed the lawsuit anonymously in November 2023, alleging that Buzbee tried to extort him through demand letters before publicly naming him as a co-defendant in a now-dismissed rape lawsuit involving Sean “Diddy” Combs. Carter claimed the letters amounted to an attempt to force a secret settlement, using a fabricated story as leverage.

The original lawsuit, brought by a Jane Doe, accused Combs and an unnamed celebrity of sexually assaulting her at a party in 1999 or 2000. That unnamed celebrity was later revealed by Buzbee to be Jay-Z. Carter vehemently denied the claims from the start and later confirmed he was the John Doe behind the lawsuit against Buzbee. In February, Jane Doe voluntarily dropped her case against both men with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. She cited inconsistencies in her own account.

Still, Carter pressed forward, arguing that Buzbee knowingly pushed false claims and attempted to pressure him into a settlement. His team later submitted audio evidence (recorded by private investigators) of Jane Doe speaking to them on her front porch in Alabama. In the recording, Doe appears to say that it was Buzbee who “pushed” her to name Jay-Z and that “it was more Diddy.” At one point, when asked directly if Carter was even involved, she allegedly said no.

Carter’s legal team claimed the recording showed not just his innocence, but also Buzbee’s role in manufacturing the allegation. In his initial responses earlier this year, Judge Epstein seemed inclined to agree. In a tentative ruling issued in March, he wrote that if the recording could be considered as admissible evidence, it would support claims of both defamation and extortion. But by June, after further hearings, the judge reversed course, this time fully dismissing the case, citing issues with California’s litigation privilege laws and the admissibility of the investigator's statements.

In his final ruling, Epstein admitted he wasn’t entirely at peace with the decision. “I am not wholly satisfied,” he wrote. “Stay tuned.” He also acknowledged that the outcome might have been “dramatically different” had the recording been allowed as formal evidence. “There would be some evidence not only that Carter had nothing to do with any sexual assault on Doe,” Epstein noted, “but that Buzbee knew it.”

Buzbee, on the other hand, claimed victory. “Yet another huge win!!” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “As I said when it was filed, the case was completely meritless.” He also said he intends to seek attorneys’ fees from Carter for bringing what he called a legally flawed lawsuit.

Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, responded with clear frustration. “We are surprised and disappointed by this ruling,” he told Rolling Stone, accusing the court of misapplying California law. Spiro emphasized that the judge himself admitted the new evidence might have swayed the outcome had it been deemed admissible. Carter’s team says they plan to appeal.

Meanwhile, Jay-Z has also filed a separate defamation suit against Jane Doe in Alabama, describing what he calls an “evil conspiracy” between Doe and Buzbee to extort him through “completely fabricated” claims. In a sworn declaration, Carter said the ordeal caused him severe mental anguish. “I felt that Mr. Buzbee was placing a gun to my head,” he wrote. “His actions caused me mental anguish about the ticking time bomb and what it would do to me, my family, and my hard-earned reputation.”

It’s worth noting that this legal drama is unfolding alongside Combs’ own mounting legal troubles. The music mogul is currently facing charges including sex trafficking and racketeering. If convicted, he could serve 15 years to life. Combs has denied all wrongdoing, and his legal team maintains that he has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone.