Kanye West to be sued by paparazzo over LAX clash

A photographer captured on video being attacked by Kanye West plans to sue the rapper with the help of attorney Gloria Allred, the lawyer’s office said Wednesday.

Allred, known for representing high-profile clients that have included love interests of Tiger Woods, is expected to announce later in the day that she is filing a lawsuit on behalf of the videographer after the incident sent him to the hospital with injuries.

The planned litigation comes after the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office declined to file felony assault and attempted-robbery charges and referred the issue to the city attorney to determine whether it warranted a misdemeanor charge.

West, who has long maintained a hostile stance toward paparazzi and even rapped about his contempt for the media, was captured on video July 19 wrestling the photographer to the ground.

In papers from the D.A.’s office on the matter, Deputy Dist. Atty. Amy-Hannah Broersma wrote that West had “attacked a freelance photographer” who was subsequently treated for contusions and muscle strain at Marina del Rey Hospital.

She wrote that the case was declined after investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department’s robbery-homicide division presented its findings in the matter and a video of the incident was reviewed.

The prosecutor said an attempted-robbery charge was declined because there was insufficient evidence of any “specific intent.” She added that felony assault charges were rejected because the victim did not sustain significant injuries.

The prosecutor noted that the photographer’s camera was not booked into evidence and so “it is unknown whether it was damaged, therefore vandalism charges were not considered.”

The singer’s lawyer has insisted West was simply trying to stop the photographer from taking a picture.

The video images shows West emerging from the airport and heading toward a waiting car. He then stops and appears to get into an argument with one of numerous photographers on scene.

The video, obtained by TMZ, shows West grabbing the photographer. He appears to have the photographer in a headlock as he forces him to the ground. Though a camera is between the two, West’s lawyer told authorities that the video shows that the entertainer never grabbed it.

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richard.winton@latimes.com