Justin Bieber and one of his bodyguards, Hugo Hesny, are being sued following an alleged clash with a photographer in Miami, Florida, on June 5.
The alleged incident took place at the Hit Factory recording studio.
The photographer, who has distanced himself from the term paparazzo, claims that his camera’s memory card was taken by the 19-year-old’s bodyguards. He also claims he was harassed and threatened after he tried to take pictures of the teen singer skateboarding in the studio’s parking lot.
After the alleged attack, local reports confirmed Miami-Dade police were called out to the Hit Factory. At the time, Miami Dade Police Detective Roy Rutland told Gossip Extra :
“The [responding] officer concluded that what occurred may have been a simple battery and possibly theft,” adding that “the photographer can pursue this with the state attorney’s office if he chooses.”
According to TMZ , the photographer, Jeffrey Binion, has included Bieber in the suit because the “Baby” singer allegedly ordered the bodyguards’ alleged attack.
Binion claims Hesny threw him to a wall in the lot acting on Bieber’s command.
In addition, it’s alleged that Hesny grabbed Binion by the throat and “displayed a gun” under his shirt while other bodyguards took the photographer’s camera and removed its memory card.
Binion’s lawyer Russell S. Adler told the website:
“Justin Bieber is now an adult, and he should act like one. He needs to learn that he cannot use bodyguards as weapons to harm innocent people.”
Adler added: “Bieber’s violent behavior toward photographers must end and he should take responsibility for his actions. No amount of fame or fortune justifies Bieber’s shameful and outrageous conduct. To send him that message and deter his misbehavior in the future, we will seek punitive damages against him as allowed by Florida law.”
Binion claims he suffered injury, pain, mental anguish, and had to pay medical expenses as a result of the incident.
The lawsuit comes after reports of an alleged scuffle involving Bieber’s security team at a hookah lounge in Hollywood on Saturday, June 8.
An individual at the lounge, who reportedly was not a paparazzo, allegedly had an altercation with Bieber’s security after he tried to take a picture of the teen star. Police were called to the lounge after a call from the alleged victim, but by the time they arrived Team Bieber had already left.
TMZ reports police are investigating the lounge incident as a misdemeanor battery. While Bieber is not considered a suspect, his role in the matter is unclear.
It’s understandable why Bieber wants privacy . But questions as to how far he and his bodyguards may be prepared to go to enforce that are now front and center of two formal investigations amid four recent incidents.
However, as yet, just about everything is alleged.
[ Image via Sugarscape & SocialiteLife ]