Partygoer Sues Sean "Diddy" Combs for Assault

A lawsuit was filed against Sean "Diddy" Combs last Friday in a Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit, filed by Gerard Rechnitzer, alleges that Sean punched and pushed himf and his girlfriend at a Hollywood nightclub. He is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the lawsuit against Combs.

Rechnitzer claims that he and his girlfriend had run into Combs at the club, Teddy's, inside the Roosevelt Hotel in the early morning hours on Feb.25. The lawsuit claims that when Rechnitzer approached Combs who was talking at the time to Rechnitzer's girlfriend, that Combs began to yell at Rechnitzer "in a threatening and ominous matter."

The lawsuit said Rechnitzer had asked his girlfriend to leave with him and Combs allegedly swore at him, "I'll smack flames out your ass."

Combs then "intentionally, willfully, knowingly and unlawfully attacked, assaulted and battered" Rechnitzer, according to court documents, causing him to "fly backward several feet" and hit a parked car.

The lawsuit further claims that Combs pushed Rechnitzer's girlfriend and "attempted to spit on another female member" of Rechnitzer's group. The lawsuit says that Rechnitzer then called the police.

Combs attorney, Benjamin Brafman called the suit" completely baseless." "It's just another example of an opportunist seeking to fabricate a lawsuit based on a flat-out lie to try and take advantage of Mr. Combs' celebrity status. Mr. Combs did not hit anyone and Mr. Rechnitzer suffered no injuries or damages whatsoever. There is no case. It is that simple."

The Los Angeles Police Department said that it is investigating and interviewing witnesses.

This is not the first time the rapper has been sued when assault was involved. Four other people have had lawsuits against Combs after employees of his were alleged to have assaulted them in three separate incidences.

In 2003 Combs was sued for $5m by Stephanie Grieso after she claimed that a bouncer outside of Combs' New York restaurant assaulted her.

Grieso claimed she was arguing outside Justin's in August 2002, when a bouncer grabbed her by the neck and dragged her down the pavement, causing leg injuries.

Benjamin Brafman represented Combs in that lawsuit also stating," This lady is in for a rude awakening because unlike other superstars, Puffy fights these lawsuits."

Two mean also sued Combs in 2003 for $25m each after saying they were attacked by Combs' security team for no reason at the star's recording studio.

In 2004 Combs was sued in Detroit after allegations that he assaulted a radio show host. Roger Mills claimed he was injured by Mr. Combs' bodyguards after asking Combs about the death of rapper Notorious BIG.

Sources:

Associated Press:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070306/ap_en_ot/people_sean_combs;_ylt=AkSqgLa.xd8ZOL79Soiuk2Ks0NUE

USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-03-05-diddy-sued_N.htm?csp=34

BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3502687.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3185607.stm

United Press International:
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/20070306-124827-2766r/