From Deseret News archives:
Gary Coleman denies attacking camera-wielding fan
Former child star set to appear in court today
Coleman recently filed a response to a personal injury lawsuit in 4th District Court, which alleges that he and his wife, Shannon Price, attacked 24-year-old Colt Rushton after Rushton snapped a few pictures of Coleman on his cell-phone camera at a bowling alley on Sept. 6.
Coleman will be in Payson's Justice Court today for his first appearance on the misdemeanor disorderly conduct and reckless driving charges, which his criminal attorney calls spurious.
"He denies all those allegations," said attorney Randy Kester. "The poor guy was stalked. He didn't do anything wrong."
Coleman, 40, and his civil attorney, Terry Plant, denied the entire lawsuit point by point or said they had insufficient information to form a belief and asked the judge to dismiss the case for a variety of reasons, according to the response.
"These defendants allege that the plaintiff was guilty of fault in a degree equal to or greater than the negligence of these defendants, if any," according to the response. "As a result, the claim of plaintiff should be diminished or barred in accordance with his fault."
According to Rushton, Rohbock told him to stop or each picture would cost $20, so Rushton stopped.
Rohbock has his own attorney, and they will be filing their response to the lawsuit shortly, said Rushton's attorney, Dustin Lance.
Lance said there is some disagreement as to whether Rohbock was Coleman's bodyguard or just a friend, which would greatly influence who is legally liable for Rohbock's actions.
Lance said as Rushton and his friends left the bowling alley, Rushton snapped a few more pictures of Coleman's truck, where the driver's seat was close to the wheel for Coleman's shorter frame.
Rushton said Price then rushed at him and clawed at him to get the cell phone away, as Coleman approached and began throwing punches.
Rushton told Coleman he didn't want to fight and just wanted his phone back, Lance said. But Coleman got in the car and while pulling out, he slammed into Rushton and knocked him down, according to the lawsuit.
Coleman and his attorney disagree with every characterization and allegation from Rushton and in the response, even asked a judge to dismiss the case.
When contacted by phone, Plant did not want to comment on the response.
They also argued that Rushton's injuries soft tissue injuries to his neck and back, and a left-knee injury were the result of "pre-existing conditions and or circumstances that these defendants did not cause or contribute to and as a result, plaintiff is not entitled to recovery for such pre-existing conditions."
In the response, Plant and Coleman even refused to confirm that Coleman and Price are residents of Utah County. Coleman, the child star of "Diff'rent Strokes" moved to Santaquin after filming the LDS movie "Church Ball."
E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com
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