Actor Omar Sharif accused in racial spat with parking attendant

Lisa Sweetingham:

A Beverly Hills parking attendant has accused 73-year-old "Dr. Zhivago" star Omar Sharif of beating him in a drunken rage and calling him "a stupid Mexican" after the valet refused to accept Euros as payment.

"Mr. Sharif's malicious and oppressive acts constituted a hate crime," accuses 48-year-old Juan Anderson in a civil suit filed Oct. 24 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Anderson claims he was polite and apologetic to the Egyptian-born film star during the alleged June 11 incident at Mastro's Steakhouse on tony North Canon Drive, but the actor's racial insults escalated into physical violence and bloodshed.

"Once informed the police were en route, Mr. Sharif, through his cohorts, offered Mr. Anderson fifty dollars to pretend the attack did not happen," the suit says.

When Anderson refused the cash, the group allegedly drove off in Sharif's Porsche in such a way as to "lurch their vehicle at the restaurant's doorman who was attempting to prevent their flight."

Anderson is suing Sharif for assault and battery, violation of his civil rights and emotional distress.

"This is a case that is, in one word, ridiculous," Sharif's attorney Martin Singer told Courttv.com.

Singer claims Anderson has switched lawyers three times since the incident and is merely trying to profit from Sharif's celebrity.

"My client simply had an argument with a parking lot attendant. He didn't touch the guy. There would be no claim if he wasn't famous. The police looked into it and decided nothing bad happened," Singer said.

A spokesman from the Beverly Hills police department who reviewed the police report over the phone said there was no evidence of a hate crime.

"We're really sensitive on that. If there's even a remote possibility, we follow up on it," said Lt. Mitch McCann. "I don't see anything in the report about a potential hate crime. I don't even see the word 'Mexican' in here."

According to McCann, the report notes that Anderson claimed to have been punched and called 'stupid' but could not recall Sharif's exact phrase. A follow-up notation in the police report says that Anderson decided not to pursue a criminal case against Sharif.

Anderson's attorney, John Carpenter, said he has not seen the police report, but believes Sharif's behavior violated California's Ralph Act and Bane Act, which permit an individual who has been the victim of racially motivated violence to bring a civil action for hate crimes.

Carpenter says he has supporting statements from witnesses, including restaurant employees and a customer in the parking lot, who describe Sharif in the suit as an impetuous man, drunk on alcohol as much as his own fame.

"Mr. Sharif spent approximately $500 on the dinner, during which he is believed to have consumed significant quantities of alcohol," the suit says. "After dinner ... Mr. Sharif became upset that his Porsche Cayenne SUV was not waiting for him."

Anderson, who makes $6.75 an hour plus tips, claims the actor was belligerent.

"Mr. Anderson was told that Mr. Sharif — whom Mr. Anderson did not recognize — was an important movie star," the suit claims.

When Anderson refused to accept Sharif's 20 Euro note, the actor "protested to Mr. Anderson that Euros are worth more than U.S. dollars and therefore [he] should accept the European currency as payment for the parking."

"Mr. Anderson politely tried again to explain to Mr. Sharif that he believed he was not authorized to accept any currency other than U.S. currency. Increasingly furious, Mr. Sharif called Mr. Anderson a 'stupid Mexican,'" the suit contends.

The Guatemalan valet claims he got the last word.

"As he closed the door, Mr. Anderson, who was hurt by the racial slurs, told Mr. Sharif in a soft voice through the car window: 'Good night. I'm sorry you talk too much about me,'" the suit contends.

Sharif stormed out of the car, according to the suit, called Anderson a 'stupid Mexican' several more times and proceeded to hit Anderson in the head with a closed fist.

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