By Rebecca Brody 13:01, November 4th 2008
Keanu Reeves has successfully completed his court mission. On Monday, a Los Angeles jury cleared the 44-year-old actor of any legal responsibility for wounds a paparazzo claimed that had been caused by the “Matrix” star, who allegedly hit him with his car.
The panel of six men and six women deliberated for more than an hour in the civil lawsuit filed by photographer Alison Silva against Keanu Reeves before deciding that the “Sweet November” star was not responsible for the paparazzo’s supposed injuries.
Thus, the actor does not have to pay Alison Silva a single penny, although the photographer had been seeking approximately $704,974 in compensatory damages from Keanu Reeves, including medical bills, as well as lost wages, which had allegedly been a result of the injuries he sustained in March 2007, according to E! Online. Alison Silva asserted that he was knocked down by the actor, who was supposedly pulling his Porsche out of a parking lot. He explained that he had suffered wounds to his wrist while he was trying to take pictures of Keanu Reaves in the wealthy Ranchos Palos Verdes neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Nevertheless, the photographer’s trustworthiness was damaged during cross-examination by the “Handball” star’s legal representative, who showed the court a video portraying the plaintiff climbing up a razor-wire fence so as to capture a video of pop icon Britney Spears and subsequently using his left hand to prop and keep balance while descending. As the clip proved that Alison Silva had not permanently injured his left wrist, his story did not seem credible to any further extent.
In addition, Keanu Reeves explained in his testimony last week that he had not run into the paparazzo in order to stop him from taking his picture and that the man had simply tripped over his own feet while he was walking backward from the vehicle.
The civil trial was far from being a sole case, as the number of confrontations between paparazzi and famous people has grown considerably during the past year, since stars like Kanye West, “Rocknrolla’s” Gerard Butler, Matthew McConaughey and Pierce Brosnan have been involved in such unpleasant incidents.
In spite of the fact that Alison Silva’s attorney explained that his client was far from being a violent photographer, Keanu Reeves’ lawyer, Alfred Gerisch, told the court that the plaintiff had endangered his own safety for a picture that would have brought him a lot of money.
After the verdict was read, the actor showed satisfaction as he patted his attorney on the back. On the other hand, Alison Silva said that he respected the jury’s decision as well, wishing the “Matrix” star all the best.
Keanu Reeves has successfully completed his court mission. On Monday, a Los Angeles jury cleared the 44-year-old actor of any legal responsibility for wounds a paparazzo claimed that had been caused by the “Matrix” star, who allegedly hit him with his car.
The panel of six men and six women deliberated for more than an hour in the civil lawsuit filed by photographer Alison Silva against Keanu Reeves before deciding that the “Sweet November” star was not responsible for the paparazzo’s supposed injuries.
Thus, the actor does not have to pay Alison Silva a single penny, although the photographer had been seeking approximately $704,974 in compensatory damages from Keanu Reeves, including medical bills, as well as lost wages, which had allegedly been a result of the injuries he sustained in March 2007, according to E! Online. Alison Silva asserted that he was knocked down by the actor, who was supposedly pulling his Porsche out of a parking lot. He explained that he had suffered wounds to his wrist while he was trying to take pictures of Keanu Reaves in the wealthy Ranchos Palos Verdes neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Nevertheless, the photographer’s trustworthiness was damaged during cross-examination by the “Handball” star’s legal representative, who showed the court a video portraying the plaintiff climbing up a razor-wire fence so as to capture a video of pop icon Britney Spears and subsequently using his left hand to prop and keep balance while descending. As the clip proved that Alison Silva had not permanently injured his left wrist, his story did not seem credible to any further extent.
In addition, Keanu Reeves explained in his testimony last week that he had not run into the paparazzo in order to stop him from taking his picture and that the man had simply tripped over his own feet while he was walking backward from the vehicle.
The civil trial was far from being a sole case, as the number of confrontations between paparazzi and famous people has grown considerably during the past year, since stars like Kanye West, “Rocknrolla’s” Gerard Butler, Matthew McConaughey and Pierce Brosnan have been involved in such unpleasant incidents.
In spite of the fact that Alison Silva’s attorney explained that his client was far from being a violent photographer, Keanu Reeves’ lawyer, Alfred Gerisch, told the court that the plaintiff had endangered his own safety for a picture that would have brought him a lot of money.
After the verdict was read, the actor showed satisfaction as he patted his attorney on the back. On the other hand, Alison Silva said that he respected the jury’s decision as well, wishing the “Matrix” star all the best.
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