A city worker sued Judge Mathis, alleging he pulled a gun on him and threatened to shoot him during an altercation in July 2023.
Ricardo Acosta claimed he was working for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power outside of Judge Mathis’ residence when the judge began swearing at him, according to TMZ. He said in the lawsuit that Mathis was upset about where Acosta’s dump trunk was stopped when he pulled his car out of the garage.
Acosta alleged that Mathis exited his vehicle and began shouting and swearing at him, at one point yelling at Acosta to “move the f**king truck out of the way,” according to TMZ. The situation escalated and Acosta claimed Mathis pulled a gun on him and threatened to shoot him.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 19: Judge Mathis attends the 2022 Harold and Carole Pump Foundation Gala at The Beverly Hilton on August 19, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Acosta sued the famous judge for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress and is seeking damages, according to TMZ.
Acosta said in the lawsuit that Mathis was behind the dump truck at one point and he told Mathis to move from that position for his own safety. He claimed he was concerned the tuck would roll backwards when put into gear because it was parked on an incline. He went on to allege that Mathis began challenging him by saying he “did not give a f**k and to run him over and see what happens to him,” according to TMZ.
The city worker alleged Mathis told him he could show him something then proceeded to run into his residence. Acosta claimed he returned with a gun and said, “I will bust a cap…. you wanna f**k with me,” according to TMZ.
Acosta alleged that Mathis threatened to “bust a cap” once more, then got back into his vehicle and drove away.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 10: Judge Greg Mathis attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat at Staples Center on December 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Mathis’ lawyer, Anahita Sedaghatfar, told TMZ, “This unfiled complaint that has been conveniently publicly circulated is a last ditch attempt by Mr. Acosta to extort my client Judge Mathis, for financial gain. Mr. Acosta’s recitation of the ‘facts’ simply do not comport with what actually transpired during the incident, which occurred over one year ago,” according to TMZ.
She went on to say, “The report made to the LAPD by Mr. Acosta’s superior contains many demonstrable falsities, while also admitting that Judge Mathis feared for his own safety and the safety of his family due to the threats made by Mr. Acosta and his cohorts and the false imprisonment they imposed on Judge Mathis on his own private property.”
Sedaghatfar insisted that the Los Angeles Police Department did not investigate Acosta’s claims, which she said “speaks to their lack of merit,” according to TMZ. (RELATED: Anonymous ‘High Profile Individual’ Files Lawsuit Against Attorney Representing Alleged Diddy Victims: REPORT)
“Should Mr. Acosta pursue this lawsuit, we will not only vigorously defend the case, we will file cross claims against Mr. Acosta for his illegal conduct and repeated defamation of my client,” she concluded.
