Jay-Z has scored a major legal victory in connection with long-simmering paternity allegations against him.
This week, as seen in court documents viewed by Complex, a California judge signed off on an order granting Jay’s legal team’s motion to dismiss a complaint from Lillie Coley, described as “the godmother and legal guardian” of Rymir Satterthwaite. As previously reported, Satterthwaite was claimed to have been fathered by Jay “in the mid-1990s” with a now-deceased woman named Wanda Satterthwaite.
“The court has read and considered the motion and concluded that it is suitable for decision without oral argument,” reads a 16-page document filed on Tuesday (Nov. 4).
Furthermore, the order granting Jay’s motion to dismiss carries with it a denial of the plaintiff’s own motion for leave to amend. This means the accusing party will not be able to refile this particular complaint, effectively bringing it to a close.
Coley had made several claims against Jay, including deceit by concealment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jay, meanwhile, had made several arguments in support of a dismissal, including citing California’s anti-SLAPP statute. As detailed here, this statute was designed to protect free speech and petition rights.
As for the plaintiff’s leave to amend efforts, the court has determined that they are “not warranted because any amendment would be futile.”
On Wednesday, Coley said in a filing that she was preparing a notice of appeal in response to the judgment. One day later, this was withdrawn, with Coley saying that she was now in the process of filing a motion for reconsideration instead.
Satterthwaite is listed as the plaintiff in a related California case. In that case, a notice of withdrawal was filed in July.
Jay has denied the claims against him, with his legal team previously describing them as an example of “decades-long harassment.” In October, a judge blocked a restraining order request against the Roc Nation founder in connection with the Coley-led complaint.