14 DAY TRIAL // According to recent court documents, singer Chris Brown is facing a $3 million lawsuit after an altercation earlier this year with singer / rapper Frank Ocean. The lawsuit has been filed by Frank's cousin, who accuses Brown of causing him “pain and suffering.” The amount sought as damage is split up as follows: $1 million for pain, suffering and inconvenience, $1 million for emotional distress and $1 million for punitive damages. An additional $60,000 (€44,236) is being demanded as payment for medical treatment.
This legal battle comes after an incident that took place outside Brown's recording studio in West Hollywood last January. Details are hazy, but it seems the two singers and their entourages got into a scuffle.
Brown claims Ocean blocked his way out of the studio and Ocean claims that Brown punched him.
Brown has counter-sued Ocean last month for unspecified damages, citing pretty much the same things as his rival, but adding that he tried to kill him by kicking and punching him. In his description of the event, the 24-year-old rapper claimed that he tried to avoid the confrontation “with the aggressive and hostile Mr. Duarte” (Ocean's real name).
For his part, Ocean says that he came out of the brawl the worst, as he was kicked and punched several times by one of Chris's bodyguards, while the rapper was spurring him to continue. He claims that he has been left permanently disabled after the attack.
Despite all statements made by him, Chris Brown's violent temper is notorious and came to the attention of the world when he famously punched his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, leaving her bruised and swollen in the face. He is currently undergoing a court-ordered 90-day rehabilitation period, related to his anger management issues.
This isn't even the first time the two young singers have locked horns together. Last July, it was Brown again who had to deny a homophobic slur directed at Ocean when the latter came out as gay on his blog last year.