Justin Bieber sued by paparazzo for alleged assault

Justin Bieber has been sued by a paparazzo who claims the singer kicked and punched him last year at a Southern California shopping centre.

A lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges the Baby crooner attacked Jose Osmin Hernandez Duran after Bieber and his then-girlfriend went to the movies at The Commons in Calabasas.

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Bieber's representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Duran claims Bieber started to leave the shopping centre in his Mercedes, but got out of his car and sprinted toward him.

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Duran says Bieber jumped into the air from about two metres away to deliver a martial-arts-type kick to the photographer's gut before punching him in the face.

The suit seeks unspecified damages for "severe and extreme emotional distress" and negligence.