Justin Bieber Wants Suit Brought by Calabasas Neighbors Reclassified

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Justin Bieber's lawyers want a judge to reclassify a lawsuit brought by his former Calabasas neighbors so that they cannot be awarded more than $25,000 on claims of assault, battery and emotional distress related to the singer's alleged threats and racing inside the private gated community.

Bieber's attorneys state in their court papers that plaintiffs Jeffrey and Suzanne Schwartz did not lose any income, never saw medical professionals or took medications for their alleged emotional distress and are not claiming any unreimbursed property damages.

"In short, plaintiffs have no damages that would exceed the jurisdictional threshold of $25,000," Bieber's lawyers state in their court papers.

The couple sued Bieber in March 2015 in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit states Jeffrey Schwartz was working in his home office when he heard Bieber's Ferrari speeding and skidding to a stop at about 9 a.m. on March 27, 2013.

The suit states that Schwartz went over to Bieber's house and asked him to drive slower because children often play in the neighborhood. The plaintiff claims Bieber responded by motioning to his two bodyguards, who asked Schwartz to leave.

As Schwartz complied and turned to walk away, Bieber charged him and threatened to kill him, according to the suit, which also alleges that the bodyguards held the plaintiff as the singer continued to threaten him and spat in his face.

But Bieber's lawyers state in their court papers that their client denies he was racing and instead maintains Schwartz was mad at him because of the loud sound of the Ferrari's engine. Bieber also says he did not spit on Schwartz and that the man screamed at him after coming onto his property, according to the singer's attorneys.

The Schwartz lawsuit also alleges the couple suffered emotional distress after Bieber threw eggs at their home in January 2014, resulting in more than $80,000 in property damage. However, the singer paid for all the couple's claimed property damage and there is no evidence they suffered any physical inquiries, according to Bieber's attorneys court papers.

Bieber, now 22, no longer lives in the plaintiffs' neighborhood. A hearing on the reclassification motion is scheduled for Jan. 17.

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of the Miami Beach Police Department

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