Wednesday, December 04, 2024 - Television judge Greg Mathis is facing a lawsuit from a Los Angeles city worker who claims the TV personality threatened him with a gun during a heated confrontation outside Mathis' home in July 2023.
In legal
documents obtained by TMZ, Ricardo Acosta, a worker with the Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), alleges that Mathis became irate
when a dump truck blocked his driveway. Acosta claims Mathis, after exiting his
car, began shouting profanities, demanding the truck be moved.
According
to Acosta, he advised Mathis to step away from the truck for safety reasons,
citing concerns it could roll backward due to the incline it was parked on.
Acosta alleges Mathis responded aggressively, telling him to "run him over
and see what happens," before retreating into his home and returning with
a gun.
The
lawsuit states that Mathis brandished the firearm and threatened to "bust
a cap," a phrase Acosta says was repeated before Mathis ultimately left
the scene in his car. Acosta is now suing for assault and intentional
infliction of emotional distress, seeking damages.
Mathis'
attorney, Anahita Sedaghatfar, has refuted the claims, describing the lawsuit
as an extortion attempt. In a statement, she argued that Acosta's version of
events is inconsistent with what transpired, alleging that Mathis feared for
his safety due to actions by Acosta and others at the scene.
Sedaghatfar
also pointed out that the LAPD did not investigate Acosta's initial complaint,
which she says undermines its credibility. She indicated that if the case
proceeds, Mathis plans to file countersuits against Acosta for defamation and
illegal conduct.
The
lawsuit follows a July 2023 incident when law enforcement sources confirmed
that a complaint was filed accusing Mathis of threatening LADWP workers with a
gun. Mathis, known for his long-running TV courtroom show, has yet to comment
publicly on the latest developments.
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