A$AP Relli has retained a new legal team and will move forward with his civil assault and battery case against A$AP Rocky, as a Los Angeles judge reaffirmed Tuesday that the January trial date remains “firm.” The case stems from a 2021 incident in which Relli, born Terell Ephron, accused the rapper, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, of shooting him during an argument in Hollywood.

The bench trial is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026, nearly four years after the confrontation that led to both criminal and civil proceedings. The ruling came during a brief hearing in downtown Los Angeles, where Relli’s newly appointed lawyers appeared via video conference to announce they were “working diligently” to revive the case after months of delays.

Relli’s former attorneys withdrew from the case following Rocky’s February acquittal on felony assault charges related to the same incident. For a short period, Relli represented himself in related litigation, a move that judges had warned against. His new legal team, led by attorneys Aaron Morris and Andrew Robertson, told the court they are now seeking private mediation with a retired judge to explore a potential settlement before trial.

Rocky’s lawyer, Wogai Mohmand, confirmed that her client is also open to discussions but requested that any negotiations take place under the structure of a court-ordered mandatory settlement conference (MSC). “We haven’t received any type of settlement offer from the plaintiff,” Mohmand said. “An MSC would be more productive to help the parties resolve the case.”

In his ruling, Judge William F. Fahey directed both sides to pursue private mediation first and report back by December 10. “Either you’re going to enjoy some success, or I’ll consider setting an MSC at that time,” Fahey said. “We have a firm trial date about two months away, and we’re going to try to settle this case.”

Judge Fahey also ordered State Farm Insurance, which previously filed a separate lawsuit seeking to avoid covering Rocky under his homeowner’s policy, to join the mediation process. The company’s attorney told the court that Relli had “fallen off the map” after his legal team withdrew, but that new representation made a comprehensive mediation more feasible.

The judge further ruled that Relli must pay $4,500 in sanctions and respond to outstanding discovery requests within two weeks, granting a motion by Rocky’s defense team to compel compliance.

The civil case mirrors the criminal proceedings that concluded in February, when a Los Angeles jury acquitted Mayers of using a semiautomatic firearm during a November 2021 altercation with Relli. Prosecutors had alleged that Mayers fired multiple shots, grazing Relli’s hand and leaving him with “physical, mental, and emotional injuries.”

During trial, witnesses testified that the gun in question was a movie prop from the set of Rocky’s “D.M.B.” music video with Rihanna and that it only fired blanks. Jurors also heard a 2022 recording of Relli suggesting he would “walk away” from the case if he were paid, as well as evidence that he had demanded $30 million from the rapper.

After the not-guilty verdict, Mayers, 37, thanked the jury, hugged his attorney Joe Tacopina, and embraced Rihanna, who attended court daily. “Thank you all for saving my life,” he told jurors as they exited.

In addition to the assault suit, Relli’s new lawyers have also taken over his defamation lawsuit against Mayers and Tacopina. In that case, Relli alleges that Tacopina defamed him by publicly calling his allegations an “extortion attempt.”

At a recent hearing, Judge Randolph M. Hammock urged Relli to consider settling the defamation case, warning that if Tacopina’s motion to dismiss succeeds, Relli could be liable for the defendants’ legal fees. “Maybe it’s time to cut your losses,” Hammock told him.

If mediation fails, the civil trial will proceed on January 12 without a jury, leaving Judge Fahey to determine liability and damages. The next hearing in Relli’s defamation case is set for October 23.