A Texas judge has dismissed all of Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee’s claims against Jay-Z and Roc Nation in the latest chapter of the contentious legal battle that started in 2024.
On June 16, Texas State Judge Kristen Hawkins ruled that the court did not have jurisdiction to rule on the claims Gerardo Garcia, Jose Maldonado, and the Buzbee law firm brought against Jay-Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation. Roc Nation and attorneys working with Jay-Z’s camp were accused of unfairly targeting Buzbee’s clients, including alleged attempts by Roc Nation to force them to sign a class action lawsuit.
In December 2024, Buzbee filed a lawsuit in Texas, naming Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s legal firm Quinn Emanuel, and lawyer Marcy Croft as plaintiffs. Buzbee claimed that the three defendants persuaded his former clients to bring “frivolous” lawsuits against him by using “shadowy operatives” and promises of financial incentives.
Garcia, a plaintiff in the lawsuit and a former client of Buzbee’s legal practice, claimed that two investigators arrived at his Houston home while posing as representatives of “the state.” The figures allegedly offered him money to participate in a class-action lawsuit against Buzbee’s company.
Jay-Z is seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Cote D’Ivoire and Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium on June 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Ezra Shaw – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The now-dismissed lawsuit was one of several complaints that resulted from the growing conflict between Buzbee and Jay-Z’s team following Buzbee’s now-retracted complaint. In 2024, Buzbee alleged that Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs sexually abused a 13-year-old girl at a 2000 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty.
Jay-Z publicly referred to the accusations as a “blackmail attempt” and promptly refuted them. In February 2025, the lawsuit filed by Jane Doe was willingly dismissed with prejudice. There has been a tense back-and-forth in the courtroom, with Jay-Z even taking shots at Buzbee during his Roots Picnic Set in late May, calling the Houston lawyer an “ambulance chaser”.
The new ruling does not weigh the contents of the accusations, but the accusations were dismissed because the state of Texas lacks personal jurisdiction over Roc Nation. The claims may be refiled elsewhere, so the legal battle is far from over. Buzbee told TMZ that an appeal is on the way.
“We will definitely appeal,” Buzbee said. “The type of conduct alleged isn’t protected speech. No matter who won this round, we knew there would be appeals. It certainly ain’t over.”
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This article originally published at Texas judge dismisses all of Tony Buzbee’s lawsuits against Jay-Z.