'Diff'rent Strokes' Star Sued

A woman who says she got a beating when she sought an autograph from Gary Coleman is now suing the former star of Diff'rent Strokes.

Tracy Fields claimed Coleman punched her in the eye and then continued hitting her after she fell onto a gumball machine at a uniform shop.

Fields filed a $1 million lawsuit Monday, claiming the attack has caused headaches and muscle spasms. Coleman's lawyer, Adam London, did not return a phone message seeking comment after business hours Monday.

Fields encountered the former child actor, now a security guard, at the shop last week and asked for his autograph. He became angry when she asked him to personalize it for her son, the lawsuit claims.

She told him his attitude was what kept him from getting acting jobs as an adult, and he then attacked her, Fields said.
Coleman is to be arraigned Aug. 25 on charges of assault and battery.

The 4-foot-7 Coleman, who now works as a Fox Hills Mall security guard, was shopping for a bulletproof vest at the California Uniforms store Thursday afternoon when he allegedly flew into a rage, punched Field in the eye and beat her when she collapsed on the floor, police said.

If convicted of battery and verbal assault, Coleman could be sentenced to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine and could lose his security guard license.