Lisa Bloom

Lisa Bloom. I'm a victim's rights attorney at my law firm, The Bloom Firm, and I represent two accusers of Sean Combs, including one of them is Don Rashard.

Lisa Bloom. I'm a victim's rights attorney at my law firm, The Bloom Firm, and I represent two accusers of Sean Combs, including one of them is Don Rashard.

So just to clarify, my second client is a man. And so he would be a John Doe. But the issue that you raise is a very important one. So it's called pseudonymous filing, which means filing under a pseudonym like Jane Doe or John Doe. And this has been widely accepted in sexual assault cases because we all know that sexual assault is so underreported. People are terrified to come forward.

So just to clarify, my second client is a man. And so he would be a John Doe. But the issue that you raise is a very important one. So it's called pseudonymous filing, which means filing under a pseudonym like Jane Doe or John Doe. And this has been widely accepted in sexual assault cases because we all know that sexual assault is so underreported. People are terrified to come forward.

They don't want to be known the rest of their life as a person who was sexually assaulted, much less sexually assaulted by a very prominent celebrity like Sean Combs. So it's really important that people have the option of either filing under their real name, like Dawn Richard did very bravely after thinking about it and deciding what was best for her.

They don't want to be known the rest of their life as a person who was sexually assaulted, much less sexually assaulted by a very prominent celebrity like Sean Combs. So it's really important that people have the option of either filing under their real name, like Dawn Richard did very bravely after thinking about it and deciding what was best for her.

And I think it's very unfortunate that courts are sometimes ruling now that people cannot file under a pseudonym. They have to reveal their real name, which leads some people to just drop the case, right? So, you know, we all know that sexual abusers need to be brought to justice and we need to do everything possible to help the victims.

And I think it's very unfortunate that courts are sometimes ruling now that people cannot file under a pseudonym. They have to reveal their real name, which leads some people to just drop the case, right? So, you know, we all know that sexual abusers need to be brought to justice and we need to do everything possible to help the victims.

And it really does not help if they have to reveal their real names or else drop the case. So I think that's really unfortunate.

And it really does not help if they have to reveal their real names or else drop the case. So I think that's really unfortunate.

Well, their real purpose is to embarrass and humiliate the victim. They're going to do anything they can to do that and hope that the victim will just drop the case. Of course, they don't say that in court. They say that they want it to be public so that members of the public can come forward with information and help them. I don't think that really happens very much, but that's what they say.

Well, their real purpose is to embarrass and humiliate the victim. They're going to do anything they can to do that and hope that the victim will just drop the case. Of course, they don't say that in court. They say that they want it to be public so that members of the public can come forward with information and help them. I don't think that really happens very much, but that's what they say.

Or they'll say, you know, in fairness, Sean Combs' name is out there. Why shouldn't the victim's name be out there? Well, they're not in equivalent positions is the answer to that. Sean Combs is very wealthy, famous, can hire the best lawyers, the best investigators, has a lot of people even now who still support him.

Or they'll say, you know, in fairness, Sean Combs' name is out there. Why shouldn't the victim's name be out there? Well, they're not in equivalent positions is the answer to that. Sean Combs is very wealthy, famous, can hire the best lawyers, the best investigators, has a lot of people even now who still support him.

And, you know, other people are just powerless everyday people who are terrified of being involved in the legal system, who may have a hard time even getting a lawyer. And if they have a lawyer, it's somebody who's a solo practitioner or a small firm. You can't afford investigators and any of that. So they come to this in very different positions.

And, you know, other people are just powerless everyday people who are terrified of being involved in the legal system, who may have a hard time even getting a lawyer. And if they have a lawyer, it's somebody who's a solo practitioner or a small firm. You can't afford investigators and any of that. So they come to this in very different positions.

Exactly. Yes. And I've had many cases where we file. For example, I had I think eight women I represented against the company Activision in a big sexual harassment scandal they had. And many of the women wanted to be Jane Doe's in that case. And they were. And of course, we revealed their name to the other side. So the other side could, in fairness, know who it was and fight the case.

Exactly. Yes. And I've had many cases where we file. For example, I had I think eight women I represented against the company Activision in a big sexual harassment scandal they had. And many of the women wanted to be Jane Doe's in that case. And they were. And of course, we revealed their name to the other side. So the other side could, in fairness, know who it was and fight the case.

So of course, I've also had cases against the clothing company Guess. And our clients in those cases started out as Jane Doe's. And then some of them, as the case progressed, decided to come out and use their real name. So I also like to tell victims that they generally get stronger as the case progresses.

So of course, I've also had cases against the clothing company Guess. And our clients in those cases started out as Jane Doe's. And then some of them, as the case progressed, decided to come out and use their real name. So I also like to tell victims that they generally get stronger as the case progresses.