Bongolan v. Combs: Parties Jointly Ask Court to Move Trial From June 8 to Nov. 9, 2027

In the matter of Bongolan v. Combs et al., No. 2:25-cv-11160 (C.D. Cal.), plaintiff Bryana Bongolan and defendants Sean “Diddy” Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment LLC and CeOpco, LLC filed a joint stipulation on Nov. 11, 2026. They ask the court to continue the June 8, 2027 jury trial to Nov. 9, 2027, “or a date soon thereafter that is convenient to this Court,” and to move the other trial-related deadlines in the May 26, 2026 scheduling order (ECF No. 41 at 4). A stipulation is an agreement the court must approve. CeOpco is described in the filing as formerly Combs Enterprises LLC (ECF No. 41 at 2).

Background

The docket shows that Bongolan’s complaint was filed in state court on Nov. 27, 2024 and reached the Central District of California through a notice of removal in November 2025 (ECF No. 5.5). She dismissed Epic Records as a defendant on Jan. 30, 2026 (ECF No. 15) and filed a Second Amended Complaint on Feb. 12, 2026 (ECF No. 23). On Mar. 6, 2026, defendants moved to dismiss it (ECF No. 24). United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin’s May 26, 2026 order set the jury trial for June 8, 2027 and vacated the scheduling conference (ECF No. 36). On May 29, 2026, the court took the motion to dismiss off its June 4 calendar and placed it under submission, with no appearances required (ECF No. 38).

The Stated Grounds

The parties write that this is “the first request for a continuance of the trial date in this matter” and that “[g]ood cause exists” to continue it (ECF No. 41 at 2). Their reasons, in the order the stipulation gives them:

1. Multiple defendants. The stipulation states that “Defendants are either incarcerated or organized, domiciled, and/or operating across multiple jurisdictions,” which it says requires “substantial logistical coordination among counsel for all parties” (ECF No. 41 at 2).
2. Combs’s incarceration. The stipulation states that “Mr. Combs is currently incarcerated at FCI Allenwood in Allenwood, PA,” and that this “has created significant practical difficulties in communicating with him, as well as coordinating his defense strategy and review of relevant documents” (ECF No. 41 at 2). It adds that the constraints “are not attributable to any failure of diligence by counsel or Mr. Combs” (ECF No. 41 at 2–3).
3. The pending motion to dismiss. The stipulation describes the motion as seeking dismissal of the Third Cause of Action against all defendants as barred by the statutes of limitations, and of other causes of action for failure to state a claim. It states: “Because the Motion to Dismiss remains pending, Defendants have not yet answered the Second Amended Complaint and the pleadings are not settled” (ECF No. 41 at 3).
4. Discovery. The parties state that they “have been unable to complete substantive discovery,” including responding to and drafting additional written discovery and deposing “essential witnesses” (ECF No. 41 at 3).

The parties add: “This request is not made for purposes of delay or harassment” (ECF No. 41 at 3).

The Proposed Schedule

The stipulation sets out the current and proposed dates (ECF No. 41 at 4):

1. Completion of fact discovery: Nov. 20, 2026, to April 23, 2027.
2. Mandatory settlement conference: Nov. 20, 2026, to April 23, 2027.
3. Initial expert witness disclosure: Dec. 4, 2026, to May 7, 2027. Rebuttal expert disclosure: Jan. 4, 2027, to June 7, 2027.
4. Completion of expert discovery: Feb. 4, 2027, to July 8, 2027.
5. Motion for summary judgment submission: March 4, 2027, to Aug. 5, 2027. Summary judgment is a request for a ruling without a trial.
6. Pretrial memoranda, witness lists, exhibit stipulation and joint motions in limine: April 30, 2027, to Oct. 1, 2027.
7. Pretrial conference order submission: May 7, 2027, to Oct. 8, 2027.
8. Trial: June 8, 2027, to Nov. 9, 2027.

The parties describe the request as a continuance of “approximately 154 days,” and state that the stipulation is “subject to the Court’s approval” (ECF No. 41 at 4).

What’s Next

The docket shows no order on the stipulation and no ruling on the motion to dismiss. On the current schedule, fact discovery and the settlement conference are set for Nov. 20, 2026. The case is assigned to Judge Olguin and Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar.

Counsel and Sources

Counsel: James R. Nikraftar, Miller Barondess, LLP, for Plaintiff Bryana Bongolan. Michael Schonbuch and Jonathan D. Gottlieb, Schonbuch Hallissy LLP, for Defendants Sean Combs, CeOpco, LLC and Bad Boy Entertainment LLC. Sources: ECF Nos. 5.5, 15, 23, 24, 36, 38 and 41 on the No. 2:25-cv-11160 docket.

Diddy Docket reports on public court records. Parties are presumed innocent or not liable unless proven otherwise. This is not legal advice.