Kanye sued by paparazzo

Kanye West is being sued for allegedly assaulting a paparazzo last month.

Videographer Daniel Ramos filed court papers on Wednesday (21 August) claiming that he was attacked by the 36-year-old rapper while trying to take photos of the star at Los Angeles International Airport on 19 July.

He has hired celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred, who has filed a lawsuit alleging assault, battery, negligence and violation of civil rights against West on her client’s behalf.

Allred alleged in a press conference that "without provocation, Mr West suddenly attacked Danny, punching him and attempting to wrestle Danny’s camera from his hands" after Ramos asked West for a quote.

"When Kanye West attacked me I was in complete shock," Ramos said at the news conference, adding: "All I had done was ask him a question I was terrified when Kanye started to come at me.

"I backed up because I felt from the look in his eyes, he was going to attack me."

Allred claims that Ramos was able to protect his camera but had to be admitted to hospital after falling to the ground "with enough force that he sustained injuries to his right hip, as well as accompanying pain and emotional distress", and is seeking general and punitive damages.

An evaluation worksheet released on Friday (16 August) by the LA County District Attorney’s Office stated that Ramos was discharged from the hospital with a contusion and muscle strain.
The lawsuit alleges that Ramos endured "great mental, physical and nervous pain and suffering" from the scuffle, and claims that he "was prevented from attending to his usual occupation as a photographer and has suffered, and will suffer, lost earnings."

However, the DA decided against filing felony charges against West as there was no "significant injury".

In their lawsuit, Ramos and Allred say they are speaking out because West had not yet apologised for his actions, and because his actions had received support from other celebrities, most notably Cher and Kirstie Alley.

"We are concerned that celebrity support for an attack on photographers will increase the risk of harm to them," Allred said, while Ramos added that he was "just trying to do my job".

He said: "I am speaking out today because I don’t want what happened to me to ever happen to anyone else."

Meanwhile, West’s lawyer insisted that the rapper was simply trying to stop Ramos from taking a picture.