Justin Bieber’s Lawyers Say Limo Driver Made Up Assault Story In Lawsuit
Justin Bieber’s lawyers claim a Toronto limousine driver currently suing the Canadian star made up his story about being assaulted by the singer in the hopes of getting a big payout.
In a statement of defense filed recently in an Ontario court, Bieber’s legal team argue the civil suit from limo driver Abdul Mohar should be dismissed.
A crucial touchstone of Bieber team’s argument is their claim that Mohar informed police he was assaulted by “a black guy,” the Canadian Press reports.
“Bieber is white,” the statement of defense said. “Mohar has concocted a story about being assaulted by [Justin] Bieber in the hope of obtaining a favorable settlement from a wealthy individual who attracts a lot of media attention.”
The lawsuit arose from a December 30, 2013, incident when Bieber and five males were picked up from a Toronto nightclub by Mohar, who drove a Ford Expedition SUV. Mohar — who was working as an Uber driver — alleges in his statement of claim that there was “a distinct odour of alcohol and marijuana present” at the time.
However, in Bieber’s statement of defense, the singer’s lawyers argue that the singer only drank a small amount of alcohol at the nightclub but was not intoxicated and had not used any illegal or recreational drugs.
According to Bieber’s lawyers, the heartthrob was sitting in the middle row of the vehicle when he asked Mohar to turn up the music.
When Mohar didn’t reply after Bieber made his request multiple times, the singer reached forward and began to turn up the music, the statement of defense states.
The document continued, “As he was doing so, Mohar grabbed Bieber’s hand and pulled it off the volume knob. Startled, Bieber quickly pulled his arm back and told Mohar not to touch him.”
“Bieber did not punch or assault Mohar in any way, intentionally or accidentally. The only physical contact between the two occurred when Mohar grabbed Bieber’s hand,” it reads.
In contrast, Mohar alleges in his statement of claim that a dispute erupted over the volume of the CD he was playing. He claims that “suddenly and without warning,” Bieber moved to the front of the SUV, turned the volume all the way up, and “viciously assaulted” him.
Mohar alleges Bieber punched him in his right cheek with a closed fist, and then “punched him four to five times in the back of the head.”
During the interrupted limo ride, Bieber’s statement of defense claims Mohar pulled over at the side of the road and got out of the SUV. At that point, the singer and his pals got out of the vehicle and into two other SUVs which had arrived on the scene, the document said.
“Bieber did not confront or speak to Mohar after Mohar had left the vehicle,” the document went on.
Meanwhile, Mohar, called 911 and claimed to have been assaulted, Bieber’s statement of defense recalled. “Mohar told dispatch that he had been punched by ‘a black guy.'”
“Mohar was not assaulted by anybody. In the alternative, if Mohar was assaulted, he was not assaulted by Bieber. Mohar’s claim is inconsistent with his own report to 911,” Bieber’s statement of defense states.
Bieber’s lawyer also claims that Mohar only learned that Bieber was in his vehicle after his 911 call.
Mohar is seeking $850,000 in damages in his suit and a permanent injunction preventing Bieber or anyone representing him from coming within 100 metres of him.
Bieber was previously charged with one count of assault over the alleged incident, but on September 8, 2014, prosecutors withdrew the charge saying they didn’t see “a reasonable prospect of conviction.”
Bieber’s statement of defense noted the dropped criminal case, underscoring that the case fell apart for the large part because “Mohar had identified his alleged assailant as black — which Bieber is clearly not.”
As it stands, none of the allegations in Mohar’s statement of claim or Bieber’s statement of defense have been proven in court. However, the persistent issue of non-credibility in the limo driver’s lawsuit appears to be deepening.
[Images via Getty Images]
