Sean “Diddy” Combs has officially been served with an amended civil lawsuit against fashion designer Bryana Bongolan, who claims he assaulted her with physical violence during a 2016 incident on a 17th-floor balcony.
The amended indictment was filed on October 14 and was hand-delivered to the Metropolitan Detention Center, where the 55-year-old hip-hop mogul is being held on federal charges.
Bongolan’s lawyer, James Nikraftar, confirmed the delivery at a court hearing in Los Angeles on Thursday (October 30).
“The process server has given [the documents] to prison. We just need to confirm that he’s got it, but we think he’s got it,” Nick Krafta told Judge Mark H. Epstein.
At the center of the lawsuit are disturbing allegations that in September 2016, Diddy molested Bongolan and then hung her from the balcony of Cassie Ventura’s high-rise apartment.
Ventura’s longtime friend Bongolan claimed the incident ended with her being thrown into patio furniture, leaving her with physical injuries and lasting psychological trauma.
“I had night terrors, paranoia and screaming in my sleep,” Bongolan testified during Didi’s criminal trial earlier this year.
The updated documents now include text messages sent between Ventura and Didi’s former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, on Sept. 30, 2016. In text messages, Ventura described the alleged attack: “He walked into my house when my friends were there and we were all sleeping. They woke me up. He was frantically ringing the doorbell at 3 a.m. When he came in, I went to my room and he walked up to Bana, grabbed her by the neck and shook her. Her feet came off the balcony.”
Diddy’s defense team earlier raised questions about the timeline, presenting hotel receipts and performance records showing Diddy was in New York and New Jersey from Sept. 24 to Sept. 29, including a concert in Newark.
In response, Bongolan’s legal team adjusted the date of the alleged attack to “around September 2016” rather than a specific day.
The lawsuit also names several corporate entities associated with Diddy, including Bad Boy Records.
Judge Epstein scheduled a follow-up hearing for January 22 and stressed the importance of ensuring all parties are properly served. “Let’s see if we can make sure that everyone is served and answered by then so we can start setting dates,” he said. “I suspect that by the time of trial, Mr. Coombs will no longer be in jail. It just took so long.”
Didi was sentenced on October 3 to four years and two months in prison after being convicted of two prostitution-related felonies. He recently transferred from the Brooklyn facility to FCI Fort Dix, New Jersey. His legal team is currently working to fast-track his appeal, arguing he may be able to complete his sentence before the appeal is heard.
Combs’ attorneys have not yet responded to the latest filing. However, in November 2023, his representative issued a statement denying Bongolan’s allegations: “Anyone has the right to bring a lawsuit, regardless of whether they have evidence. Mr. Combs firmly denies these serious allegations and firmly believes that they will ultimately be proven to be baseless.”
The case is one of several legal actions Didi is currently facing. Many paused during his criminal trial but are now continuing after his conviction and prison sentence.
