Justin Bieber’s former neighbors in Calabasas, California, whose house was egged by the singer in 2014, are not finished with the Canadian.
The 21-year-old singer is being sued for alleged assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and trespass, in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, March 19, by his estranged former neighbors Jeffrey Schwartz and his wife Suzanne. They are seeking more than $25,000 in damages.
The civil lawsuit accuses Bieber of allegedly spitting in Jeffrey’s face and threatening to kill him. The Schwartzes allege, “During his continued residence at the property… Mr Bieber [&] his employees, agents and acquaintances continued to harass, threaten and intimidate plaintiffs [&] their family at every opportunity without justification, basis, reason or excuse.”
According to E! News , which obtained a copy of the lawsuit, hostility between Bieber and the Schwartzes first became a matter of record in March 2013.
Jeffrey claimed he heard Justin’s [then] blue Ferrari pass by and come to a halt at around 9 a.m. on March 27, 2013. His lawsuit states that Schwartz “calmly” went over to Bieber’s former home and “politely” asked the singer not to speed around the neighborhood for the safety of the children who played in the area.
Schwartz alleges Bieber then signaled to his “two large bodyguards,” who allegedly came over and asked Schwartz to leave. In his lawsuit, Jeffrey alleges that as he walked away, Bieber “launched into an unprovoked tirade, threatening to ‘f—–g kill’” him. Schwarz claims the singer then charged at him in a “threatening manner.”
Schwartz alleges the “Beauty and A Beat” singer’s bodyguards held the star back, while the then 19-year-old allegedly threatened to ”f—–g kill” Schwartz and “f—–g kick his a–,” the lawsuit continues.
Schwartz claims Bieber then “maliciously spit” in his face.
Jeffrey also claims in the suit that a bodyguard, who identified himself as Bieber’s head of security, subsequently came to his house and apologized for the singer allegedly spitting.
However, the alleged spitting and alleged apology claims are likely to be contested if this case goes to court. On March 27, 2013, TMZ reported sources close to the singer denied Bieber spat at Schwartz or threatened to kill him, although they reportedly did confirm that Schwartz had confronted the Biebs.
Fast forward to May 2013, it is alleged that some of the Biebs’ crew yelled obscenities and threats at Suzanne and the couple’s minor daughter as they encountered each other close to the main gate of the Calabasas neighborhood, which is an entry-exit point for the gated enclave.
Over Memorial Day weekend that same month and year, the lawsuit alleges Schwartz and a friend walked over to Bieber’s home after allegedly seeing the star race by in his Ferrari. Jeffrey alleges Bieber’s bodyguards came outside, and that one of them called Schwartz a “little Jew boy,” before repeatedly saying , “What are you going to do about it, Jew boy?”
In addition to allegations of noisy parties held by either Bieber or his house-sitting friends, alleged reckless driving by Bieber and alleged usage of marijuana, the Schwartz suit also mentions the damage to their house after Bieber egged it on January 9, 2014. The family recorded the incident via amateur video .
Following a police raid of Bieber’s then house in Calabasas days later, amid a vandalism investigation by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office, Bieber was charged with misdemeanor vandalism seven months later. Roll to July 10, 2014, the singer pleaded no contest [in absentia via his lawyers] to the charge.
Among the batch of plea deal terms handed down, Bieber was ordered to pay $80,900 in restitution to the Schwartzes (this had now been paid). The singer was also ordered to 12 weeks of anger management classes, five days of community service, and a two-years probation sentence. He was also ordered to stay away from the Schwartzes for two years.
Regarding Schwartz’s spitting/battery claim , in October 2013, the District Attorney’s office officially noted their declination to press charges against the singer.
The rejection filing stated that Bieber’s behavior “seemed disproportionate and immature.”
The statement added, “However, given the brief duration of the encounter and the surrounding circumstances, including the fact that the complainant – despite his good intentions – had entered the suspect’s property without invitation, the evidence does not show beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect’s outburst rose to the level of a criminal threat.”
At the time, US Weekly reported, “The D.A.’s office added that though the alleged victim had reportedly saved the, um, saliva Bieber had allegedly spit on him, no such evidence existed.”
An alleged reckless driving investigation against the singer was also closed by police. It was prompted by allegations made over memorial day weekend in 2013 by neighbors.
Since January this year, Bieber has been apologizing for previous bad behavior, which he partly puts down to fame going to his head and his inability to cope with the dramatic and sudden change to his life at the age of 12.
As yet, neither Bieber’s lawyers or representatives have commented on the Schwartzes’ assault and battery and other civil allegations lawsuit.
[Images via Getty Images ]