A photographer sues Bieber after the popstar allegedly 'physically attacked' him during a parking lot altercation by launching a martial-arts style kick to his torso and punching him on the face.
- June 27, 2013
AceShowbiz -
A paparazzo filed a lawsuit against Justin Bieber on Wednesday, June 26, after he allegedly "physically attacked" the photographer in May 2012. According to a court filing obtained by E! News, Jose Osmin Hernandez Duran said that he was one of the paparazzi who took pictures of Bieber and then-girlfriend Selena Gomez at the parking lot of The Commons shopping center in Calabasas, California.
According to the filing, Bieber had difficulties turning his Mercedes Sprinter van because Duran and his fellow photographers swarmed his car. The "Baby" singer later allegedly yelled at them, "F**k off! Get out of my way!" However, "a few seconds later" Bieber went out of his car and "delivered a martial-arts type kick" to Duran's left lower rib, launched a "hard" punch to the plaintiff's face and pushed him to a parked car.
"Justin, you don't have to do this," Duran said at that time and made "a submissive gesture" with his hands. Gomez, who stayed in Bieber's van, was said going out and warned her then-boyfriend, "Justin, stop! They're taking your picture!" An unidentified woman who had been watching the alleged altercation also urged Bieber to stop assaulting the paparazzo.
E! News reported that the authorities investigated the incident, but the L.A. County District Attorney's Office chose not to press charges against Bieber. The singer's attorney, Howard Weitzman, said, "Seriously?" when he was inquired about the lawsuit, in which Duran sought for unspecified monetary damages, alleging assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.
