Angry actor leaves valet $318,000 tip after dumb racial slur
Physician, heal thy temper. Omar Sharif, famed for his work as "Doctor Zhivago" and skills at the bridge table, now finds himself on the hook for a $318,190 legal bill after punching valet Juan Anderson and calling him a "dumb Mexican."
Well, Mr. Anderson's not Mexican, nor is he dumb. Mr. Sharif may be feeling like it, however, when it comes time to pay. Here's the story I just posted on dailynews.com:
Omar Sharif's attempt to duck out on his valet parking bill cost him more than $318,000.
The suave star of "Doctor Zhivago" and "Lawrence of Arabia" had just polished off dinner at Mastro's Steakhouse in June 2005 when valet Juan Anderson brought him his car.
Sharif tried to pay in euros, which Anderson pointed out were not valid currency in America.
Sharif did not take well to the valet's suggestion, punched him in the head and called him "a stupid Mexican." Anderson, a Guatemalan national in the process of becoming an American citizen, took umbrage and filed suit.
After a one-day trial Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joe W. Hilberman found in favor of the roughed-up valet and awarded him $318,190. Sharif, representing himself, didn't show up.
"It's a bizarre case," said John Carpenter, Anderson's attorney. "After Omar Sharif punched my client, he hopped in the car and tried to escape."
A Mastro's doorman called the cops and told the actor and professional bridge player to wait, according to court documents. Sharif allegedly proffered a bribe - in dollars this time - and took off.
"Although Mr. Sharif successfully fled the scene of his hate crime that night, he was unable to flee the long arm of the law for long," Carpenter wrote in his brief to the court.
Sharif, 75, has since pled no contest to beating Anderson and is awaiting sentencing.
He retained Martin Singer to defend him, then fired the famed celebrity lawyer before the trial began. Singer was unavailable for comment today.
Anderson, 46, who was making $6.75 an hour, plus tips, plans to keep his job at Mastro's.
"I used to wait tables - people in the service industry try their best to help people," Carpenter said. "When they're treated like garbage, it's very hurtful. We don't know if this will ever be paid, but at least the judgment gives him some comfort."
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