Judge dismisses Jay-Z’s paternity suit, ending years of accusations

A federal judge in California has dismissed a paternity suit against Jay-Z with prejudice, finally ending a years-long legal battle brought by a man named Rymir Satterthwaite who claims to be the rapper’s son.

Court documents obtained Through Page six show that the judge granted the music mogul’s request to dismiss the case, which was filed by 30-year-old Rymir Satterthwaite, through his legal guardian and paralegal, Lillie Coley. The ruling means Satterthwaite can no longer make the same claim or request a DNA test from Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter.

Satterthwaite claimed that his late mother, Wanda Satterthwaite, dated the “99 Problems” rapper in the 1990s and that Carter fathered him. Jay-Z, 55, has consistently denied the allegations.

Satterthwaite appeared to concede earlier this year that he was stepping away from the case. “I have withdrawn my case,” he said in a July 27 Instagram post, adding that he had “a lot going on behind closed doors.” Still, he emphasized that his search for the truth was not over, saying, “We need to step back and play chess, not checkers.”

Lawyers for Jay-Z describe the repeated paternity claims as baseless. “The fabricated allegations and claims have been heard — and dismissed — in multiple other courts,” they said, calling the filings “the latest” in a “decades-long” pattern of harassment.

In previous filings, Satterthwaite claimed his intention was not to recover child support, but to recover damages for “reputational and emotional issues.” He also accused Carter of manipulating the legal system to suppress his paternity claims.

The legal dispute dates back to the early 2000s, when Wanda Satterthwaite filed a child support case in New Jersey, which was ultimately dismissed because it was filed in the wrong jurisdiction. The claim resurfaced in 2014 when Satterthwaite and Coley renewed their petition.

In a 2023 interview, Satterthwaite told the Daily mail“This will not be over until justice is served.” Jay-Z’s lawyer responded that “the allegations have previously been thoroughly reviewed by the court and have been refuted.”

The dismissal also extended to a related lawsuit filed by Satterthwaite’s godmother and legal guardian, Lillie Coley, who accused Jay-Z of neglect. Coley’s case was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett earlier this week, effectively barring her from making the same allegations. The ruling also opened the door for Jay-Z’s legal team to seek sanctions and recover attorney fees.

However, the legal battle may not be completely over. According to to a report by AllHipHop’s Grouchy Greg Watkins, Coley has already filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Her application, filed on November 5, signals an attempt to continue challenging the decision. In her response, Coley said the new appeal will focus on “issues not previously considered” by the court, shifting its approach from a standard amendment appeal to a motion for reconsideration.

For years, Jay-Z and his lawyers have repeatedly denied claims that he secretly fathered Satterthwaite, labeling them as baseless and previously rejected by multiple courts. Despite the string of legal defeats, Coley’s latest move suggests she isn’t ready to close the chapter just yet.

Jay-Z shares three children — Blue Ivy, 13, and twins Rumi and Sir, 8 — with wife Beyoncé.

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