Paparazzi

A photographer who claims Justin Bieber directed his bodyguards to attack him and steal his memory card is now suing the singer and one of the bodyguards ... alleging the bodyguard threatened him with a gun during the incident.

As TMZ first reported, photog Jeffrey Binion filed a police report June 5, claiming Bieber's bodyguards attacked him while he tried to take pics of the Biebs outside Miami's Hit Factory recording studio.

Now Binion has filed suit against Bieber and bodyguard Hugo Hesny, claiming Bieber masterminded the attack. Binion says at Bieber's behest, Hesny threw him against a wall, grabbed him by the throat, and "displayed a gun" [holstered under his shirt] while he and the other bodyguards took the memory card from his camera.

Binion (who works as a professional photog and insists he's not a paparazzo) claims he suffered bodily injury, pain and suffering, mental anguish and incurred medical expenses.

Binion's lawyer, Russell S. Adler, tells TMZ, "Justin Bieber is now an adult, and he should act like one. He needs to learn that he cannot use bodyguards as weapons to harm innocent people. Bieber’s violent behavior toward photographers must end, and he should take responsibility for his actions."

He continues, "No amount of fame or fortune justifies Bieber’s shameful and outrageous conduct. To send him that message and deter his misbehavior in the future, we will seek punitive damages against him as allowed by Florida law."

Adler -- who has previously handled cases against Rosie O’Donnell, Paulina Rubio, and Jason Kidd -- claims Hesny is not licensed to work as a bodyguard in the state of Florida, nor does he have a concealed weapons carrying permit there.

Bieber and his bodyguards have recently been involved in four similar incidents -- three last week in Miami and one Saturday night in Hollywood.

A rep for Bieber had no comment.

Rob Kardashian's topless paparazzi drama is officially over -- the judge has officially dismissed the charges against RK for allegedly attacking a female snapper who took shirtless pics of him back in March.

We broke the story ... RK was charged with battery and theft after Andra Viak claimed an angry Rob got physcial with her and swiped her memory card when she took photos of the 26-year-old leaving a West Hollywood gym without a shirt.

Besides the criminal charges -- Viak sued Rob over the incident ... but she dropped the lawsuit last week when Kardashian agreed to pay for the camera equipment.

The only remaining formality was those 2 misdemeanor charges ... but Andra didn't want to pursue them ... and today, the judge officially dismissed the case.

Justin Bieber was the ringleader in a SECOND pap altercation in Miami Wednesday -- ordering his goons to steal a photog's camera ... all while the man pled desperately for mercy -- and the entire exchange was caught on tape.

The incident occurred outside The Hit Factory recording studio at around 4 AM ... just hours before Bieber's security guards allegedly choked another photographer, and tried to jack his camera equipment as well.

On the tape, you hear Justin scream to his bodyguards, "Grab that camera!!! Get that f***ing camera out of here!!!" (time code: 1:08)

You can hear the photog plead with Justin, who responds like a benevolent prince, "Alright, alright. I'm gonna give you your camera back. I'm gonna take your SIM card though."

The photog begs and pleads to let him keep his memory card -- even offering to delete the photos he took -- but Bieber is unmoved.

Authorities are currently investigating the altercation that took place later in the day -- but law enforcement tells us, police have no record of the earlier incident because it wasn't reported.

We reached out to Justin's people ... so far, no comment.

All told, Bieber's had three run-ins with photogs while in Miami this week -- the first incident occurred Monday night at the American Airlines Arena following the Heat game. Someone snapped this pic of Bieber on his cell phone and the singer reportedly flipped out.

Justin Bieber's security guards allegedly assaulted a photog in Miami and authorities are investigating ... TMZ has learned.

Bieber was in the parking lot at The Hit Factory, skateboarding in the parking lot. A photog -- the alleged victim -- began taking pics of the singer.

Our sources say the photog told cops ... 2 of Bieber's bodyguards rushed him and one started choking him. He says the bodyguards grabbed his camera and removed the memory card.

The cops showed up and took a battery report. The case will be sent to the State's Attorney for review.

We're told there are photos of the assault -- of course.

Nicole Richie claims a paparazzo did the unthinkable at LAX ... he dropped his own kid on the floor so he could whip out his camera and get a shot -- and then she shamed the guy on Instagram.

Richie posted the photos a couple of hours ago ... claiming the man -- not a TMZ guy -- "dragged his poor, sweet little girl on my plane from NYC to LA."

She continues, "As he ran her off the plane, he dropped her ON THE FLOOR of LAX as she laid there, crying her eyes out.. Just to get his shot. #Heartbreaking #FatherOfTheYear."

In fairness to the photog, there are no photos showing the snapper actually dropping the kid on the ground.

Kanye West's swollen forehead has been avenged! The sign that took him down has been sentenced to hanging ... a few feet higher than before. Celebrity ... justice?

That stupid, red parking sign that bashed Kanye West in the face last month will NEVER HURT ANYONE AGAIN ... 'cause it's just been raised WAAYYY above head-bashing range, TMZ has learned.

The sign (sporting a 1-0 record in street fights) ... famously K.O.'d Mr. West back in May when the rapper was trying to walk to a nearby restaurant while shielding his face from the paparazzi.

Kanye went BALLISTIC after the sign attack ... and unleashed a legendary screaming, running, angry tirade at the photogs.

Now, we've learned the people who own the property have decided to take action -- raising the sign by several feet ... so it towers over any regular-sized person.

Of course, it's possible the sign-owners made the move to prevent a future lawsuit ... but as for Kanye, we're told he hasn't made any sort of legal threat since the incident.

Bottom line -- the streets of Bev Hills are now safe for walkers ... unless you're a giant.

Rob Kardashian has settled with the photog who accused him of robbery -- stealing her camera equipment -- and this will almost certainly mean the end of the criminal case against Rob.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Rob has agreed to pay Andra Viak the value of the camera equipment.

TMZ broke the story ... Viak was waiting for Rob in the parking garage at a West Hollywood gym in March and when Rob started taking his clothes off she started taking pics. Rob then grabbed her camera's memory card and kept it.

Prosecutors charged Rob with battery and petty theft. There was a hearing in court today and the lawyers told the judge a civil settlement had been reached.

Our sources say Viak is now satisfied and doesn't want to pursue the criminal case. It's pretty much a formality that the judge will end the matter without prosecution.

The incident that led to the Rob Kardashian vs. Paparazzo arrest didn't appear to be a "joke" when it was happening ... because the photog told police, "He tried to kill me" ... and it's all caught on tape.

TMZ broke the story ... Rob was handcuffed and arrested early Sunday morning after chasing after a paparazzo and cornering him in a bong shop. Rob insisted he was just "joking" with the pap.

But new footage has surfaced ... which shows Rob was in a very heated argument with a super attractive female moments before the incident. It appears Rob gave chase to the pap AFTER he realized the argument was being recorded.

The pap ran to the nearby smoke shop to hide out ... but Rob spotted him and followed him inside. Cops saw the chase and darted inside the shop ... bursting into the store as Rob was closing in on the photog.

Once the pap sees the cops ... he yells out, "He's attacking me ... he chased me ... he tried to kill me." During the video, Rob never lays a hand on the pap.

The officers grabbed Rob and asked him why he was in the shop ... to which the reality star replied, "I'm shopping."

Kardashian was placed in handcuffs and warned, "Don't resist."

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Rob confirmed to cops that he gave chase because he "did not like the paparazzi filming him."

The photog -- not from TMZ -- actually got out of his car after she crashed into a wall at the school -- taking it down -- and began shooting pictures of Tori.

TMZ has learned the terms of the settlement between Jordan Dawes and Penn reads, "All of the net proceeds of the settlement will be donated to charities that support victims of domestic violence and victims of the earthquake in Haiti."

We're told Dawes' powerhouse attorney, Donald Karpel, is also donating a large chunk of his attorney's fees to the charities as well.

Sean Penn threatened to kill a paparazzo if he ever ran into him again ... this according to a new lawsuit filed by the photog.

Jordan Dawes alleges he was filming a documentary about paparazzi last October in Brentwood, CA when Penn suddenly began "kicking and punching" him.

In the suit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Dawes says Penn broke his camera and then said "the next time I see you, you will be in a box."

As we first reported, Dawes said he had to have knee surgery ... the result of the alleged attack.

Penn was charged with criminal battery and vandalism over the incident back in February. That case is pending.

Moments ago in Lancaster, Ca. court, freelance photographer Ed Frommer accused Rowe of slander, libel and defamation -- and wants $7,500 in damages.

Rowe testified Frommer hounded her, repeatedly trespassing on her property, and denies defaming the dude.

A photographer who is suing Debbie Rowe claims he was attacked with a bat by three men who were yelling, "Leave Debbie alone."

Photog Ed Frommer is suing Rowe, claiming she defamed him by "lying" to police by saying he intentionally scratched her face and struck her. Frommer has sued Rowe for $7,500 in small claims court.

Frommer told cops on Sunday at 11:15 PM in Lancaster, CA, three males began following him in two different cars and ran him off the road. Frommer told police they got out of their cars -- one of them wielding a bat and poking him in the chest. They were yelling, "Leave Debbie alone."

Reese Witherspoon is more than happy to become the key witness in a case involving a vicious fight between two members of the paparazzi.

The whole thing started in Brentwood earlier today, when two pappers -- not ours -- were trying to get a shot of Reese after she finished exercising. Each wanted to get "the shot" and they began fighting. We're told it was intense.

The LAPD was called to the scene. Cops took a report and are investigating.