The legal battle over a now dismissed sexual assault lawsuit between Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee has taken a new turn. Jay-Z's defamation lawsuit against Buzbee is now headed to trial after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark H.

Diddy’s legal team is staying on the offensive and has begun taking aim at Tony Buzbee. USA Today reports that Sean Combs’ defense team filed a motion on Tuesday (Feb. 25) in response to Buzbee’s attempt to represent a potential client in the Southern District of New York, even though he has been barred from practicing in the area.

Jay-Z's lawsuit against famed Texas attorney Tony Buzbee reportedly contains enough merit to proceed to trial.

Z’s defamation lawsuit against Houston attorney Tony Buzbee had enough merit to go to trial, Rolling Stone Magazine reports. However, the rapper’s separate extortion claim against Buzbee may not stand in trial.

According to Rolling Stone, a Los Angeles judge, Mark H. Epstein, stated on Tuesday that Jay-Z’s defamation claim has enough merit to move forward. The judge noted that the key issue is whether Buzbee acted recklessly and with actual malice when he included Jay-Z as a defendant in the now-dismissed lawsuit.

A Los Angeles judge was leaning toward allowing rapper's defamation claim against lawyer to continue but not a related extortion claim

Z‘s defamation lawsuit against Tony Buzbee to proceed as alleged evidence shows the Houston attorney sharing and liking incriminating posts on X. RELATED: Tony Buzbee Drops Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Jay-Z And Diddy According to Rolling Stone,