Suit against Justin Bieber by fired bodyguard claims assault, seeks back pay

Justin Bieber at The Patriot Center on December 11, 2012 in Washington, D.C. / Getty

LOS ANGELES A former bodyguard for Justin Bieber sued the pop superstar Thursday, seeking more than $420,000 in overtime and other wages and claiming the singer repeatedly struck him during an October confrontation.

Moshe Benabou's lawsuit claims Bieber berated him and repeatedly punched him in the chest after a disagreement about how to handle a member of the Grammy-nominated singer's entourage. After he walked away, Bieber fired him, Benabou's lawsuit claims.

Benabou also says he was mistakenly told that he wasn't entitled to receive overtime despite working 14-to-18 hour days between March 2011 and October 2012.

An email message sent to Bieber's publicist was not immediately returned.

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Benabou is seeking unspecified damages on the assault and battery claims and $421,261 in unpaid overtime, vacation and other wage benefits.

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Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2012 highlights

"For nearly two years Mr. Benabou devoted himself completely to ensuring Mr. Bieber's personal safety," Benabou's attorney, Ilan Heimanson, wrote in a statement. "Mr. Benabou deserved, as does any employee, to be treated with respect, dignity and in accordance with the law. Unfortunately, he was not. "

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Justin Bieber

Bieber's album "Believe" ranked No. 6 in 2012 sales with more than 1.3 million units sold.

In October, Los Angeles prosecutors declined to file charges against Bieber after finding insufficient evidence that he punched and kicked a photographer outside a movie theater near his home in Calabasas, Calif., a month earlier.

[Nighthawk827]

I know this guy and he used to treat his own employee's like crap. He claimed to be ex Israeli Special Forces and that he still consulted with the Israeli Government on national security issues. He used to cheat his employed out of their pay. He used to flip people back and forth from salary to hourly to screw them out of overtime. Most of the time the salary amount didn't even equal minimum wage.

[josephp5]

I'm not sure I'm believing this bodyguard. Almost half a million in unpaid wages in only a year in a half? Even considering overtime, what bodyguard makes that kind of money? I know Bieber is no angel, but frequently these personal aids to the stars think they can use their inside knowledge to blackmail them. That may be what is happening here.

[Meezermom1951]

Sounds like "Saint" Justin isn't the nice sweet boy everyone says he is. He is just a nasty, spoiled brat who needs to have his butt kicked up between his ears. He has no right to use physical abuse on any employee but he has gotten away with this crap since the beginning and no one ever said no to him. I am so sure his mommy must be so proud of her money maker!

[varigdc10]

I just can;t believe who would be a fan or follower of such a talentless little ***hole as this thing.

[greennnnnn-2009]

I concur. What a frikkin' little common street thug. He'll keep it up and become another Biggie Smalls. He's well on the way already.