A city worker is suing Judge Greg Mathis, claiming the TV personality threatened him with a gun after a dispute over a dump truck blocking his driveway.
According to a lawsuit filed by Ricardo Acosta, an employee of the LA Department of Water and Power, the incident occurred in July 2023 outside Mathis’ home, per TMZ.
Acosta was working nearby when, he says, Mathis became enraged after he tried to pull his car out of the garage and came across the parked dump truck.
Acosta claims the judge started yelling obscenities at him and demanded he “pull the damn truck over.”
He claims Mathis then got out of his car and stood behind the truck.
Concerned for Mathis’ safety, Acosta says he ordered him to get out from behind the vehicle, fearing the truck would roll backward because it was parked on a slope.
A city worker is suing Judge Greg Mathis, claiming the TV personality threatened him with a gun after a dispute over a dump truck blocking his driveway
According to a lawsuit filed by LA Department of Water and Power employee Ricardo Acosta, the incident took place outside Mathis’ home in July 2023, according to TMZ.
In response, Acosta claims Mathis told him, “I don’t care, just run me over and see what happens.”
According to the lawsuit, Mathis then entered his home and returned with a gun, which he allegedly brandished while threatening Acosta.
“I’ll break a cap…do you want to fuck me?” Mathis reportedly said before getting back in his car and driving away, but not before threatening again, “I’ll break a cap.”
Acosta is suing Mathis for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and is seeking damages for the alleged threats and distress caused by the incident.
In response to the lawsuit, Mathis’ attorney, Anahita Sedaghatfar, called the claims an attempt to extort her client for financial gain.
She claimed that Acosta’s version of events was inaccurate and contradictory to the facts.
“This unfiled complaint, which has been easily disseminated publicly, is a last-ditch effort by Mr. Acosta to extort my client, Judge Mathis, for financial gain,” Sedaghatfar told TMZ.
‘Sir. Acosta’s statement of the ‘facts’ simply does not match what actually happened during the incident, which took place over a year ago.”
Acosta was working nearby when, he says, Mathis became enraged after he tried to pull his car out of the garage and came across the parked dump truck.
Acosta claims the judge started yelling obscenities at him and demanded he “pull the damn truck over.”
According to the lawsuit, Mathis then entered his home and returned with a gun, which he allegedly brandished while threatening Acosta.
She also pointed to a report prepared by Acosta’s superior at the LAPD, claiming it contained “many demonstrable falsehoods,” while acknowledging that Mathis reportedly feared for his own safety and that of his family due to Acosta’s and his colleagues. .
Sedaghatfar further stated that the LAPD did not investigate Acosta’s claims, highlighting their lack of merit.
She added, “That the LAPD did not even investigate Mr. Acosta’s claims is a testament to their lack of merit.
“Should Mr. Acosta proceed with this lawsuit, we will not only vigorously defend the case, but we will also cross-claim against Mr. Acosta for his illegal conduct and repeated defamation of my client.”
Judge Mathis premiered in 1999 and quickly became one of the longest-running courtroom reality shows in TV history.
The show, hosted by former Michigan judge Mathis, has won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and earned a loyal fan base for its mix of tough justice and relatable life lessons.