Keanu Reeves Cleared in Paparazzo Suit
Actor Keanu Reeves was found not to be liable for a photographer’s injuries last year after the paparazzo apparently got too close to his upscale vehicle.
Alison Silva “claimed he was knocked to the ground and injured his wrist in March 2007 when he was trying to take pictures of Reeves leaving a house in his Porsche in the affluent Ranchos Palos Verdes area of Los Angeles,” reports Reuters. The 44-year-old Matrix star, however, testified last week that he didn’t strike the photographer, contending that Silva slipped and fell as he was backing away.
A Los Angeles jury apparently believed Reeves’ version of events, finding him not liable for Silva’s damages after about an hour of deliberation on Monday. The photographer had been seeking $640,000 for medical expenses and lost income.
Too-aggressive photographers, at least as celebrities see the situation, have recently been a cause of controversy in L.A. As discussed in an earlier ABAJournal.com post, some have been lobbying the city council to consider stricter controls, such as a required “personal safety zone,” concerning what they describe as harassment by paparazzi.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Victims or Whiners? L.A. Celebrities Seek Protection Against Paparazzi”
Reuters: “Surfers plead innocent over paparazzi brawl”
