Judge Sides W/ Diddy In Assault Case

It's too soon to decide whether or not hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs will have to turn over his financial information, said the judge presiding over his assault case yesterday (Feb. 27).

Diddy is accused of punching a man in the face outside a Hollywood hotel back in February of 2007.

Michael M. Marzban, lawyer of the alleged victim Gerard Rechnitzer, wanted to get into Diddy's financial records in order to seek punitive damages if his client wins the case, according to the Associated Press.

Combs filed a declaration opposing the efforts to obtain information on his financial worth but the judge said it's too early to dig into the rapper's personal affairs anyway.

"If you were to get a finding of fraud, oppression or malice, some or all of this information you would be entitled to," Superior Court Judge Robert L. Hess said. "I'm not persuaded at this point to give it to you today. We have privacy issues here that are very important."

As previously reported, Diddy was investigated for allegedly assaulting Rechnitzer outside Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel. Rechnitzer claimed the altercation started after Diddy tried to invite his fiancé to a private party. Combs was cleared of criminal charges in July, but Rechnitzer filed a civil suit last March.

Combs said it didn't happen that way.

"Any contact ... was caused by his forward motion against my open hand," Diddy declared in his court certification.

"People do not bounce off hands with their face/body, they get punched," Marzban said in a written response. His client also has four eye witnesses to back up his claims.

The trial date is set for May 27.