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Rick Springfield gets emotional during butt-injury court testimony

Singer Rick Springfield takes the stand in a lawsuit filed by a woman who accuses him of knocking her unconscious with his rear-end during a concert
Rick Springfield gives emotional testimony in butt-injury trial 00:45

A retrial in underway in the injury lawsuit filed by a woman who says 1980s pop star Rick Springfield fell on her during a 2004 concert at the New York State Fair.

The Post-Standard of Syracuse reports that Springfield became emotional and cried while testifying Tuesday in state Supreme Court.

"I get emotional sometimes," Springfield said. At one point he was given a tissue for his tears. At another point, he yelled in the courtroom.

The singer known for his 1981 hit "Jessie's Girl" is being sued by a 45-year-old woman who says she suffered serious injuries when Springfield fell into the crowd during a 2004 concert at the state fair outside Syracuse.

Vicki Calcagno of Liverpool says Springfield's buttocks hit her in the head, knocking her unconscious and causing lasting injuries. According to the 2007 lawsuit, his buttocks caused "serious, disabling and permanent injuries."

Calcagno's lawyer, Kenneth Goldblatt, asked Springfield if he's ever been grabbed by women in the audience. Springfield, 65, said it's common for women at his concerts to "grab my butt if they're feeling a little saucy."

A judge declared a mistrial last year when a new witness came forward, claiming she too was knocked down by Springfield during the same concert.

Ronald Grinel, Springfield's tour manager, says he's never seen Springfield fall.

Testimony resumed on Wednesday.

Springfield was recently cast in the second season of "True Detective."

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