Friday, June 3, 2011

Patti LaBelle sued after her bodyguards pummel West Point cadet at Houston Airport

Singer Patti LaBelle is best-known as a diva, but she's in hot water.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Singer Patti LaBelle is best-known as a diva, but she's in hot water.

Bodyguards for singer Patti LaBelle laid a bloody beating on a West Point cadet who wandered a little too close to the R&B diva's luggage at a Houston airport, a lawsuit charges.

Richard King, a senior at the U.S. Military Academy, was left bleeding with a concussion after the March 11 fracas at Bush Intercontinental Airport, the suit charges.

The 23-year-old is seeking unspecified damages from LaBelle and three members of her entourage in the lawsuit filed this week, the Houston Chronicle reported.

King flew into Houston for spring break, consuming�a few�alcoholic drinks during the flight, said his lawyer, John Raley.


West Point cadet Richard King took a beating at the Houston Airport. (KHOU)

The 5-11, 190-pound defensive back on the Army football team was chatting with his brother on a cell phone when he unknowingly approached LaBelle's parked limousine.

"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," the lawsuit charged.


First blood: King and the bodyguards scuffle. (KHOU)

"LaBelle lowered the window of her limousine and gave a command to her bodyguards. They sprang into action."

An airport security video showed King getting pushed and punched before he falls against a concrete pillar. He makes three unsuccessful attempts at standing before finally staggering off.

The video also captured Houston police officers posing for photos with LaBelle after King - his yellow sweatshirt splattered with blood and his head bandaged - was loaded into an ambulance.


Knockout! King hits the ground. (KHOU)

A call to the 67-year-old singer's publicist was not returned Friday.

lmcshane@nydailynews.com

Source: http://feeds.nydailynews.com/~r/nydnrss/gossip/~3/S78Yv0Xi-nc/2011-06-03_patti_labelle_sued_after_her_bodyguards_pummel_west_point_cadet_at_houston_airpo.html

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