Justin Bieber has been ordered by a judge to show in Miami next month for a mediation hearing in relation to a civil lawsuit filed against him by a paparazzo, instead of by video link as Bieber had requested.
Paparazzo Jeffrey Binion claimed the singer ordered his bodyguards to rough him up after he was allegedly spotted taking taking pictures of the then 19-year-old outside Miami’s Hit Factory recording studio on June 5, 2013.
Bieber denies the allegation.
Through his lawyers, Bieber had asked the presiding judge to excuse him from attending an upcoming mediation hearing in Miami on several grounds.
According to court papers obtained by TMZ , the singer’s legal team argued that he would or could not fly commercial.
This is likely because the Canadian experiences a huge invasion of privacy on commercial flights, which would make it an unpleasant trip. As has been seen in recent months, Bieber usually travels by private jet.
It is reported the “Beauty and A Beat” singer also argued that flying to Miami would be too pricey for him to bear fuel-wise, hence the request for a video link appearance.
Apparently, Bieber’s team said it would cost over $68,000 to fly himself and his entourage by private jet to Miami and stay one night. Further cost details are listed here .
In documents, Binion’s lawyer, Mark DiCowden , countered that the singer could take a first class commercial flight for $1,000.
Bieber’s lawyers reportedly also told the judge the 20-year-old was far too busy recording an album to attend. DiCowden argued that such recording was work and the singer would have to miss it. The opposing lawyer argued the singer has to obey U.S. rules in a lawsuit.
The judge agreed and has thrown out all of Bieber’s objections to appearing in person in Miami. The singer is ordered to be in Miami before March 20 for the hearing or will be held in contempt.
The judge reportedly also set a trial date of May 11 in case the mediation does not resolve in a settlement.
Exactly 10 days after his turn at the Miami mediation, Comedy Central will air their roast of Bieber on March 30. It remains to be seen if the mediation will make the cut in the event.
Meanwhile, the hitmaker was a guest at the rapper Kanye West’s Adidas runway show on Thursday on the first day of New York Fashion Week, where West premiered his Season One Yeezy collection with Adidas.
Other guests at the show included models Hailey Baldwin, Kendall Jenner , Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna, Diddy, Cassie, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Russell Simmons, Khloe and Kim Kardashian, Big Sean, Pusha T, Pete Wentz and more.
The Biebs posted a few Instagrams post-show. One showed him emerging from the show wearing a Michael Jackson-esque red jacket and a pair of Yeezy 750 Boost hightops.
[Images via Getty/INFPhoto/Fahlo]