Patti LaBelle was hit with a lawsuit from a West Point cadet and former Army football player on Wednesday who claimed the singer ordered her bodyguards to beat him up at a Houston airport terminal as he waited for a ride home, reports the Associated Press.
In the lawsuit the cadet, Richard King, alleged that he was waiting for family to pick him up outside one of the terminals at Bush Intercontinental Airport on March 11 after coming back to his hometown while on break from West Point. King alleges three of LaBelle's bodyguards attacked him while he was waiting.
"Apparently, defendant LaBelle believed King was standing too close to her (no doubt expensive) luggage, even though he was oblivious to her presence and the danger he was in," King's lawsuit states according to the wire service.
The suit was filed in Houston civil court on Wednesday. In addition to LaBelle, it also names the bodyguards, the airport and a taxi dispatcher as co-defendants. It goes on to state, "LaBelle lowered the window of her limousine and gave a command to her bodyguards. They sprang into action."
John Raley, a lawyer for King, told the wire service that the alleged attacked resulted in a concussion and lingering dizziness and headaches for King. The lawsuit is asking for unspecified damages.
LaBelle and her spokesperson did not immediately comment on the matter to press outlets.
The two-time Grammy Award-winner has a career that spans over 40 years and includes hits like "Lady Marmalade."
The Associated Press reviewed a surveillance video from the airport provided by King's lawyer. According to the wire service, the video shows 23-year-old King talking on a cell phone when one of LaBelle's bodyguards pushed up against him. It then shows King then pushing him back, however, Raley claims King did not push back but was trying to protect himself from a punch.
The video then shows the bodyguard and two other individuals pushed and punched King, hitting him in the face and knocking him to the ground.
The bodyguards move away from King after he unsuccessfully tried several times to get up off the ground. Police eventually came over and helped King. The video then cuts to King, who has a bandage on his head and blood on his yellow sweater, being placed on an ambulance stretcher.
The video ends with two Houston police officers taking photos with LaBelle.
The lawsuit alleges that LaBelle "was a full participant in the cruel attack on King. She ordered it, and never tried to stop it."
Raley said King was told by his doctors he can never play football again because of his injuries.
The incident was reported to West Point by Houston police. King was suspended for at least one year and ordered he go on active duty.
"Our hope is West Point will watch the video and reevaluate the situation and recognize that Richard King is innocent and should not be punished in any way," Raley said.
Zuri Edwards, an individual involved in the incident who also claims to be the limo driver, told police King hit him after he asked the cadet to back away from the limousine that LaBelle was in, according to Houston Police.
Edwards told police King appeared to be intoxicated, Smith said. The investigating officer also noted in his report that King appeared to be intoxicated and smelled of alcohol. The police report named King as the suspect in the incident.
Raley said King had a few drinks on the flight to Houston but denied he was intoxicated.
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