Keanu Reeves is Free From Assault Charges

Fortune goddess still took side of actor Keanu Reeves, who had a small victory after the assault charges against him was thrown out.

A Los Angeles judge dismissed assault claims filed against Keanu Reeves by a celebrity news photographer a.k.a papparazi on Monday, saying there was no evidence to support the allegations. Alison Silva had claimed in a lawsuit that Reeves intentionally drove into him while riding his Porsche 911 in March 2007, causing injuries and a loss of earnings for the photographer.

Silva filed in November, asserting he was unable to work, had incurred costly medical and “incidental” expenses, and that he lost out on numerous jobs as the result of the run-in.

But according to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elizabeth A. Grimes, there was insufficient evidence showing the ‘Matrix’ star meant to injure photographer Silva while pulling out of a parking spot last year. As Judge Grimes said at yesterday’s court hearing, “There was no evidence of the slightest contact or the slightest touching. It didn’t happen. Plainly Mr. Reeves intended to drive away. That intent is not unlawful.”

Judge Grimes also adding that there’s an indication Reeves was merely driving away in his black Porsche 911 Cabrio when Silva, who was walking backward trying to get the shot, tripped over his own feet. Further more, Grimes said if anything, 44-year-old Reeves who had been visiting his sister at a health clinic and didn’t want to be photographed, appeared to be a victim of an assault, because the paparazzo put his hands on the actor’s vehicle.

Reeves, who was not in presence, said in a sworn statement submitted in July that he did not try to harm the photographer. Sandra Bullock’s partner on box-office movie ‘Speed’ said, “At no time did my vehicle make contact with Mr. Silva other than when (he) bent over and placed his hand on the hood of my car.”

The judge’s decision meaning that Silva will not be able to seek damages for his claims of assault, battery and punitive damages. However, he will still be allowed to pursue negligence claims against Reeves at a trial set for next month.

The actor’s attorney, Mark Williams, said about the court hearing result, “These were allegations for which there was no factual support. With regard to the future, the issue for the court and for a jury is whether or not Mr. Reeves is liable in the claim of negligence. We’re confident once the jury has had an opportunity to view all the evidence, they will render a verdict in favor of Mr. Reeves”.

While Silva’s lawyer, Joseph Farzam, argued that today’s opinion did not change the fact that his client can still win the same amount of damages if he can show Reeves was negligent, a claim requiring a lower threshold of proof. As he said, “If a jury finds that Mr Reeves was not being careful in driving his car into Mr. Silva, then he’ll be awarded his damages again. For us, this is not a loss by any means. But I think the judge erred, if you ask my opinion. I think it was for a jury to decide what Mr. Reeves’ intent was at the time. And he admitted that he did intend to drive his car forward and that is sufficient for a claim of battery”.

Trial for negligence claims has been set for October 27.

May the right man wins. Good luck then!

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