Star sued over 'punch-up'
2005-10-25 08:53
Los Angeles - Screen legend Omar Sharif was sued on Monday by a US parking attendant who claims the actor committed a hate crime by punching him and hurling racial slurs in an argument over payment, a lawyer said.
Sharif, 75, the star of classic films including 1965's Doctor Zhivago and 1962's Lawrence of Arabia, allegedly flew into a rage after the valet parker at a chic Los Angeles restaurant refused to accept payment in euros instead of in dollars, the attendant's lawyer told AFP.
"Today I filed a lawsuit against Omar Sharif, the actor, who violated the California hate crimes statute by assaulting and battering my client and calling him a 'stupid Mexican'," attorney John Carpenter said.
"He (Sharif) wanted to pay for his valet parking service in euros and my client does not feel he was able to accept a payment in euros," he said of the June 11 incident outside Mastro's restaurant in Beverly Hills.
Guatemalan-born Juan Anderson claims the Egyptian-born Sharif punched him in the side of the head, drawing blood, after the argument over currency and then repeatedly called him a "stupid Mexican."
Sharif, who according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court had been drinking heavily during his $500 dinner with a group of friends, allegedly tried to pay for the parking service with a €20 note.
When Anderson said he could not accept foreign currencies, Sharif allegedly became belligerent. After the valet helped Sharif into his Porsche Cayenne Sports Utility Vehicle, the valet said: "Good night. I'm sorry you talk too much about me," according to the lawsuit.
Sharif then allegedly got out of the car and punched Anderson with a closed fist while shouting "anti-Latino" racial epithets.
Anderson, 48, who ears $6.75 per hour as a valet parker, is seeking $50 000 in civil penalties as well as unspecified punitive damages and damages for Anderson's injuries.
Representatives for Sharif, a legendary gambler and bon viveur who also starred in the hit in the hit 2003 French film Monsieur Ibrahim, could not be reached for comment late on Monday.
- AFP