The lawsuit alleges assault and battery, negligence and interference of the photographer's civil rights.
When Kanye West is out in public, it's not unusual for paparazzi to swarm. The rapper's trek through LAX last month started with the usual peppering of questions, but this time West was visibly upset, delivering at first some angry glances, then accusing the photographer of baiting him.
"What you're trying to do is get me in trouble so I have to pay you like $250,000," West said at the time.
"We have filed a lawsuit on behalf of that videographer, Danny Ramos, against Kanye West," said attorney Gloria Allred at a news conference Wednesday.
Allred is suing the rapper on behalf of the man behind the camera, Daniel Ramos.
"I told him twice: 'I don't want to fight you,'" said Ramos. "However, he attacked me anyway."
Allred claims West punched Ramos, knocked him to his knees trying to wrestle the camera away from him, injuring Ramos badly enough that paramedics had to take him to the emergency room.
"I was in terrible pain from the attack and I am still in pain," said Ramos.
Eyewitness News reached out to West's publicist but messages were not returned.
Last week, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to file felony assault and attempted robbery charges against West, saying Ramos didn't have a significant injury.
The city attorney's office was considering whether to file misdemeanor charges.
In this incident the musician actually drew words of praise from some celebrities. Celebrity endorsements of the incident by stars like Cher and Kirstie Alley sparked anger from Allred.
"These are just working men and women trying to do their job," said Allred. "Celebrities aren't the only ones who have rights. And I think the celebrities should really thank them for the fact that they get coverage."
Allred refused to say how much in damages she is seeking from West. But she added that a good start would be an apology from the musician.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
