Mom Sues Justin Bieber For $9 Million For Hearing Loss
Singer Justin Bieber is being sued for nearly $10 million. A concert goer who attended one of his live shows claims that shrieking fans caused her permanent hearing loss.
The petition is filed against Bieber, his record label and the concert show's promoter. The document states that Stacey Betts was injured by a "sound blast" at one of his concerts at the Rose Quarter in Portland on July 14, 2010.
The lawsuit was filed by Stacey Betts in U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, according to TMZ who obtained a copy of the petition and has a copy of it on their website here.
The blast, she claims, caused "hearing loss, severe tinnitus [a ringing in the ears] and hyperacusis [sensitivity to sound] in both ears." The blast was part of a sound effect that came after Bieber climbed into a heart-shaped gondola and "created a wave-like effect of screaming by pointing into various sections of the arena."
Betts claims that when Bieber hung in the gondola over the crowd, he "enticed the crowd into a frenzy of screams by continuously waving his arms in a quick and upward motion, whereas I was struck with a sound blast." The suit describes the "Baby" singer as a "sound conductor" who summoned up the sound blast that caused Betts to receive permanent damage in both of her ears. She also claims she is experiencing a whooshing sound in her ears that makes it hard for her to sleep.
The suit claims that "experienced promoters, sound engineers, managers and artists" are responsible for maintaining safe sound levels during concerts so Betts is seeking $9.23 million in damages for expenses, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, severe tinnitus, hyperacusis and permanent disability and impairment to both of her ears.
The lawsuit comes less than a week after Justin Bieber was cited for speeding on a Los Angeles freeway. Bieber received a speeding ticket for driving 80 miles per hour while being chased by paparazzi, according to TMZ who first broke the story.
The article claims that the 18-year-old was weaving in and out of traffic and called 911 to report five different paparazzi cars were following him.
Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine who happened to witness the car chase claims that Bieber was driving at least 100 miles per hour and should be arrested. According to TMZ 10 witness called to report the high speed car chase.
"They're the ones that are driving recklessly now, I'm just trying to like not have them be on my tail right now," said Bieber in a 911 recorded call obtained by TMZ.
"Before I was driving fast so I could get away from them and got pulled over myself," added Bieber.
Cops eventually stopped the 18-year-old singer, citing him for speeding and Bieber eventually filed a complaint against a photographer and even provided his license plate number.