H&W Lawsuit Against Justin Bieber

PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 10, 2013

EX-BODYGUARD SUES JUSTIN BIEBER FOR ASSAULT, WAGES

Ilan Heimanson was quoted in a Jan. 10, 2013 Associated Press article about a lawsuit Heimanson filed against pop star Justin Bieber on behalf of Bieber’s former bodyguard. Moshe Benabou alleges that Bieber owes him more than $420,000 in overtime and other wages and that the singer struck him during an argument in October.

According to the article, Bieber berated Benabou and punched him in the chest repeatedly when the two had a disagreement about how to handle a member of Bieber’s entourage. Benabou was fired after he walked away from the dispute.

The suit also alleges that Benabou was told he could not receive overtime despite working 14 to 18 hour days for more than a year. It seeks $421,261 in unpaid overtime, vacation and other wage benefits as well as unspecified damages for the alleged assault.

“For nearly two years Mr. Benabou devoted himself completely to ensuring Mr. Bieber’s personal safety,” Heimanson said. “Mr. Benabou deserved, as does any employee, to be treated with respect, dignity and in accordance with the law. Unfortunately, he was not.”