The 'Baby' hitmaker is accused of punching Moshe Benabou in the chest and denying him overtime, salary and other wage benefits.
- Jan 11, 2013
AceShowbiz - Justin Bieber is facing a new legal woe. The Canadian teen star is named defendant in a lawsuit filed by Moshe Benabou who worked as his bodyguard from March 2011 to October 2012. The Israeli man claims he was punched in the chest multiple times by the singer during a heated argument.
In addition to accusing Bieber of physical violence, the plaintiff says that he wasn't entitled to receive overtime despite working 14 to 18 hour days. He is seeking unspecified damages on the alleged assault and $421,261 on unpaid overtime, vacation and other wage benefits.
"For nearly two years Mr. Benabou devoted himself completely to ensuring Mr. Bieber's personal safety," his attorney Ilan Heimanson says. "Mr. Benabou deserved, as does any employee, to be treated with respect, dignity and in accordance with the law. Unfortunately, he was not."
Bieber and his camp haven't issued an official statement to respond to the lawsuit, but sources close to the singer say to Us Weekly that the accusations are "baseless and meritless."
The lawsuit comes hot on heels of Bieber's controversial pot pictures. He's caught on camera smoking a blunt during a party at his hotel room with a group of friends. A few days prior, he was rumored breaking up again with his girlfriend Selena Gomez.
