LATEST: BRUCE WILLIS has fired back at the photographer who accused the movie star of assaulting him last week (14JUN06) - accusing him of making false and damaging claims against him.
Paparazzo ANTHONY GOODRICH filed a police report, claiming the DIE HARD star assaulted him outside West Hollywood restaurant Koi, pushing his video camera into his face and chipping a tooth.
But in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles yesterday (19JUN06) and obtained by website TMZ.com, Willis' lawyer MARTY SINGER insists Goodrich and other "stalker-paparazzi" flashed high-powered strobe lights in his client's face as he was entering the restaurant.
The suit claims Willis "put his hand up in front of his face to shield his eyes from the blinding flash" and at no point "shoved the photographer and pushed his camera into his face".
The suit also claims articles written about the incident exposed Willis to "hatred, contempt, ridicule and obloquy..." He is seeking $1 million (£555,500) in damages.
TMZ.com reports that Los Angeles police officials dropped Goodrich's case two days after the incident after the cameraman refused to prosecute Willis.