Paparazzo sues actor Harrelson

A paparazzo filed suit Friday against Woody Harrelson, asking for $2.5 million and alleging that the Academy Award-nominated actor struck him in Hollywood nearly two years ago.

Josh Levine, who was working for the celebrity news website tmz.com, was filming Harrelson near Las Palmas Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard about 11 p.m. on June 29, 2006, according to the suit. Levine alleges that the actor broke his video camera, choked him, then ordered his bodyguard to attack him. Levine contends the star thrust the camera into his ribs.

Levine’s suit said he still experiences mental, physical, nervous and emotional pain and suffering.

Representatives for Harrelson, who was nominated for his role in “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and also starred in “White Men Can’t Jump” and “Natural Born Killers,” could not be immediately contacted.

-- Jason Song