Dawn Richard sues Sean “Diddy” Combs for sexual abuse.

The 41-year-old musician, who rose to fame as a member of the girl group Danity Kane, founded by Combs, filed suit in federal court in New York on Sept. 10, claiming the 54-year-old music mogul sexually and verbally abused her for nearly a decade, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. She is the eighth person to accuse Combs of sexual abuse.

In the lawsuit, Richard claims that Combs owes her an estimated $3.5 million in “unpaid wages and royalties” for the first two albums by the group “Damaged” – whose members at the time also included Aubrey O’Day, Shannon Bex, Wanita “D. Woods” Woodget and Aundrea Fimbres – as well as “unpaid fees for over 100 tours.”

According to the documents, she also witnessed Combs physically attacking several women “on multiple occasions,” including his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura – who had previously sued the Bad Boy Records founder for abuse and later reached a settlement.

A spokesperson for Combs did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Richard and Combs began working together when she was chosen to play Danity Kane in Season 3 of MTV’s The founding of the bandThroughout the filming of the show, the complaint alleges, she was subjected to “aggressive and hostile behavior” from Combs, including “derogatory gender-based remarks” toward the cast members and comments about Richard’s physical appearance.

The lawsuit alleges that Combs deprived the Danity Kane women of “basic needs such as adequate food and sleep” during seasons 3 and 4. The founding of the band and displayed “degrading behaviour” which caused Richard “increasing feelings of insecurity and fear of reprisal”.

Richard’s lawsuit alleges that Combs regularly used drugs and forced Danity Kane to “record and rehearse for 36 to 48 hours straight without a break.”

“As she had to choose between eating and sleeping, Ms. Richard lost a significant amount of weight, weighing approximately 100 pounds at a height of 5’4″,” the documents state. “Ms. Richard began to normalize these extreme conditions and view them as normal requirements for her participation in Danity Kane.”

According to the lawsuit, Combs “managed” the split from Danity Kane in early 2009 and left Richard suffering “significant financial hardship” when she became unemployed. They continued to work together and he allegedly promised payment that never came.

That same year, Combs formed the group Diddy — Dirty Money with Richard and Kalenna Harper. During an early recording session for the trio Last train to Paris According to the documents, Richard witnessed Combs yelling at Ventura while cooking and throwing a “boiling hot pan of eggs” at the “Me & U” singer, “causing her to fall to the floor in the fetal position.”

Combs later reportedly warned Richard and Harper of “consequences” if they informed anyone about the violence against Ventura, telling them that “people end up missing” if they shared such information.

Richard’s lawsuit states that she attended a party hosted by Combs after the 2009 Soul Train Awards, where “dozens of young women and girls – some of whom appeared to be minors” – were present and illegal drugs were being used. According to the documents, Combs then had sexual contact with some of the women and girls, and many of them “appeared lethargic or unconscious.”

The lawsuit alleges that Richard attempted to leave the party and was asked by another Combs employee to wait in order to remain inconspicuous. “Knowing that she was not allowed to leave and would have to wait, Ms. Richard began to panic and felt trapped against her will,” the documents state.

Richard found herself in similar situations “regularly” at Combs’ parties, the complaint says. At some of them, she saw that police officers were present, which gave guests the impression that the police would not help them.

The documents allege that Richard witnessed Combs mistreating Ventura on numerous other occasions, after which she and Harper attempted to help her out of the abusive situation. After learning of their attempts to interfere, according to the complaint, Mr. Combs yelled at the women, “You bitches don’t interfere in my relationship,” “Don’t tell my bitch (Ms. Ventura) what to do,” “Just make money and shut up,” “I’m screwing artists,” “I’m putting careers on hold,” “You could be missed,” and “You bitches want to die today,” among other threats.”

Richard also claims that Interscope Records executives witnessed Combs attacking Ventura during a dinner sometime in 2009 or 2010, before the record company signed a deal with Combs’ Bad Boy Records.

During her time with Diddy – Dirty Money, Richard says she was subjected to grueling working conditions similar to those in Danity Kane, including food and sleep deprivation.

According to the lawsuit, in 2010, Richard was “admitted to a hospital and diagnosed with arthralgia (joint pain due to overuse, sprains, tendonitis and infections), anemia and a low white blood cell count.” She allegedly informed Combs of the problems and emphasized the importance of a healthier lifestyle, but was still expected to work at the same pace.

According to the documents, Combs sexually harassed and assaulted Richard on multiple occasions, asking her to “strip down to her underwear,” making sexually charged comments, and grabbing her butt and breasts in professional situations.

When Diddy — Dirty Money performed on Saturday Night Live In December 2010, Combs allegedly refused to take Richard and Harper to a rehearsal space in New York City before verbally abusing them in the lobby upon their arrival.

According to the documents, Richard told him to stop, and Combs nearly hit her – but security took her and Harper to a car and locked them inside so they couldn’t escape. Harper was soon removed from the vehicle, but Richard was left in the unheated car without her belongings.

“She became cold and feared for her life because she did not know if or when she would be released,” the documents state. Her father then allegedly drove to the location from Baltimore, ordered her release and threatened to call the police – at which point Combs warned her, and later told Richard afterwards. SNL“You don’t call your father unless you’re in the hospital.”

The lawsuit alleges that Richard never received compensation for her participation in songs for Danity Kane and Diddy’s Dirty Money. She was also allegedly never paid for an aborted reboot of. The founding of the band or a collaboration for Combs’ The Love Album in 2023.

According to the documents, Richard is seeking “compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, attorneys’ fees and costs, and such other relief as the court deems appropriate.” She is requesting a jury trial.

Lisa Bloom, an attorney for Richard, told PEOPLE: “I am honored to represent the talented and beloved artist Dawn Richard as she seeks justice against Sean Combs and other individuals and entities associated with Combs during the years she knew him.”

“Dawn had the opportunity to appear as Jane Doe, but bravely chose to enter her true name,” Bloom’s statement continued. “We will not rest until we achieve full and complete justice for Dawn in this case.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to Rainn.org.