Justin Bieber To Be Questioned Over Paparazzo In Public Video Deposition, Past Incidents Allowed

Justin Bieber lawyers’ appeal to prevent a video deposition about a June 2013 incident in which a Miami paparazzo claims the superstar allegedly instructed his bodyguard (s) to attack him and take his camera memory card from being made public, has been denied.

In addition, another appeal by the 19-year-old’s legal team against the allowance of past incidents involving the singer, his bodyguards, and photographers into the deposition, has also been denied.

Photographer, Jeffery Binion, claims Bieber’s bodyguards roughed him up outside Miami’s Hit Factory Recording studio on June 5, 2013. Binion alleges he was choked and that his memory card and camera were forcibly taken after he was spotted taking photographs of Justin.

In his complaint [which can be viewed here], Binion claims Bieber ordered the alleged attack and was negligent in how it was allegedly carried out by his bodyguards.

Two orders by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel in the battery and negligence suit brought against Bieber and Hugo Hesny – one of his bodyguards – were appealed by the Canadian singer’s lawyers but their request was denied, according to documents filed February 11 in the Third District Court of Appeal for Miami.

A source close to the case told People magazine,“Miami Judge Sarah Zabel initially denied Bieber’s requests to stop Binion’s lawyers from deposing him and asking questions about other incidents involving him and his varied bodyguards’ aggressive behavior,”

“Although Bieber’s lawyers appealed the judge’s rulings, the appeal was denied. Bieber can no longer hide. Binion’s lawyers are waiting for a deposition date to be set in Miami.”

Gossip Extra reports, after Bieber’s lawyers initially filed to seal the deposition from public release Binion’s lawyers filed an objection, which read: “Bieber’s celebrity status gives him no greater legal right to seal his deposition than anyone else.”

In response to the most recent appeal denials, Howard Weitzman, a California attorney for Bieber said:

“The Binion lawsuit is totally without merit, as are the recent Miami DUI and Toronto assault cases where Justin has been wrongfully accused. These cases are all in the early stages (sic). We choose to litigate them through the courts instead of the media.”

Binion’s attorney Mark DiCowden, presumably acting as part of Russell S. Adler’s team, had no comment.

The “Baby” star had been scheduled to attend a video deposition on January 23, 10 am at a Santa Monica, California, attorney’s office, for a grilling by DiCowden in the case.

However, Bieber and his friend, R&B singer Khalil Amir Sharieff were arrested by police that same morning for suspected DUI’s in Miami Beach and missed the deposition.

At the time Gossip Extra reported DiCowden flew to Los Angeles and spent a total of three days waiting for Bieber who failed to show.

The website adds court records indicate Bieber may have to reimburse DiCowden for travel expenses and 30 work hours.

Now the stage is set for a new date for a new video deposition date which will eventually be made public.

According to TMZ, Bieber will be questioned over five specific incidents involving him, his bodyguards, and photographers:

1:) An alleged run-in with another Miami paparazzo hours before Binion’s alleged encounter, June 5, 2013.

2:) An alleged attack on an Argentinian photog as Bieber left Buenos Aires’ Ink nightclub on November 9, 2013.

3:) An alleged beat down of a photographer in Hawaii on November 20, 2013.

4:) An alleged attack on an Australian lensman during the last leg of the singer’s Believe world tour, 2013.

5:) And an alleged beating of a paparazzo by a security team member at an IHOP eatery in Encino, CA on December 18, 2013.

Meanwhile, Bieber is lying low in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is rumored to looking to buy a property ahead of court dates and a crucial decision in one investigation.

The singer has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of DUI, resisting violence without arrest, and driving with an expired license. A trial date of March 3 has been set. He will also attend a March 10 court date in Toronto to answer a charge of assault over an alleged attack on a limousine driver in December.

Bieber also awaits a decision by the Los Angeles District Attorney as to whether felony or misdemeanor charges will be brought against him over his alleged egging of his estranged neighbor’s house on January 9, reportedly causing $20,000 in damages.

The D.A. also has the option to drop the case, but after a costly January 14 police raid at Bieber’s Calabasas, California, mansion this seems unlikely.