NEW YORK - New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe, 41, says he has settled the civil lawsuit filed by the New York hotel clerk he assaulted in June with a telephone.
A statement released by both parties said the Oscar-winning actor and the Mercer Hotel employee, Nestor Estrada, had settled the
case but offered few details.
"Both sides expressed satisfaction at the resolution," the joint statement said.
Local tabloids said Crowe paid about US$100,000 ($145,053) to settle the civil lawsuit. Crowe is due back in court on September 14 to face criminal charges, and faces up to 7 years in jail if convicted.
The incident took place shortly after 4am on June 6 when Crowe returned to the trendy Soho hotel and became irritated when Estrada was unable to put through a call to Crowe's wife in Australia. Upset, Crowe pulled the telephone out of the wall, went to the lobby where he argued with Estrada and threw the phone at him.
The New Yorker magazine reported that Crowe was enraged because the hotel clerk dismissed his frustration by saying "whatever" -- a dismissive put-down.
- REUTERS
