Driver Claims Drunk Actor Beat Her Up

CLEVELAND (CN) - A bus driver claims actor Matthew Fox, star of the TV shows "Lost" and "Party of Five," beat her up because she wouldn't take the drunken actor where he wanted to go immediately - though she was driving a bus for someone else.

Heather Bormann, of Cleveland, sued Fox, of Bend, Ore., for assault and battery, in Cuyahoga County Court.

Bormann, a mother of three, says Fox beat her up on the night of Aug. 27-28, when he was in town shooting the movie, "I, Alex Cross."

Bormann says she was working as a contract driver for a "party bus," taking a private party to and from Shooters, a bar on the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River.

She says that at around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 28, as she sat in the bus waiting for he employers to return, Fox "attempted to board the bus," and demanded plaintiff drive him back to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel."

Bormann says she "politely advised him he was not permitted to board since it was a private party and private vehicle for hire and was unavailable."

The complaint continues: "Defendant Fox continued to force his way onto the steps of the bus, and bellowed loudly at plaintiff, demanding she drive him to his hotel. Plaintiff again informed him she could not do so, that this was a private party and that he was trespassing upon a private party and vehicle, without permission to do so, and would have to find another 'ride.'

"Suddenly and without provocation, Fox attacked plaintiff with his fists, delivering sudden and severe blows to her right breast, groin, arm and legs, inflicting severe, disabling injury and pain to plaintiff."

She says she "instinctively defended herself," and managed to whack Fox "in the face, and head, cutting and bloodying his lip, causing him to spit blood, but defendant failed to retreat, continued to attack her, and plaintiff struck defendant again, severely injuring her left hand and fingers.

"Cleveland Police were summoned, arrived at the scene, handcuffed and detained the intoxicated Fox, made some inquiries, but shortly thereafter released Fox to several persons to take him back to his hotel."

Bormann says she completed her work assignment, then sought treatment for her injuries at the Fairview Hospital Emergency Room.

She seeks punitive damages for assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

She is represented by J. Norman Stark.

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