From today's order by Judge Rita Lin (N.D. Cal.) in Parham v. Combs:
This lawsuit concerns the alleged gang rape of Plaintiff Ashley Parham that occurred on March 23, 2018, in Orinda, California. On March 13, 2025, Plaintiffs amended their complaint to add Defendant Drew Desbordes to the lawsuit, alleging that he participated in the rape.
Desbordes has moved for sanctions against Plaintiffs' counsel under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires attorneys to have a factual basis for allegations made in a complaint and to have conducted a reasonable investigation prior to filing suit. After the lawsuit was filed, Desbordes' counsel sent Plaintiffs' counsel evidence, including debit card records and phone records, showing that it was virtually certain that Desbordes