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Alleged Britney Stalker Now Suing L.A.
The Japanese businessman ordered to stay away from the pop princess (and who's now suing her) accuses Los Angeles of taking away his dignity.
Originally posted Wednesday October 29, 2003 07:38 AM EST
A Japanese businessman ordered to stay away from Britney Spears (and who is now suing the pop princess) is trying to fry an even bigger fish: the city of Los Angeles.
Yokohama-based software entrepreneur Masahiko Shizawa, 43, is suing the city of Los Angeles for allegedly taking away his dignity during a search of his hotel room in October 2002, reports the Associated Press.
On Oct. 7, Shizawa was ordered to stay at least 300 yards from Spears and have no contact with her for the next three years. Superior Court Judge Alan Haber, who issued the restraining order, said Shizawa was "abnormally obsessed and fixated with" the 21-year-old pop star.
But on Monday, Shizawa filed suit against the City of Angels in U.S. District Court. His action didn't state a specific amount, but he estimates that his "loss of human dignity" should come to more than $2 million in damages.
Police spokesman Officer Jason Lee tells AP his department was unaware of the action, but he wouldn't comment on pending litigation.
The lawsuit comes less than a week after Shizawa sued Spears, claiming her guards pulled a gun on him in a public street and told him to leave the area. He seeks unspecified damages for that suit, too. The Spears camp has not commented on the matter.
The pop star first sought a restraining order against Shizawa in December 2002, claiming he tracked her down and tried to contact her at her two homes (in two different states), as well as at the residence of her parents. She said he also sent her photos of himself and notes, including one that stated, "I'm chasing you."
Shizawa, who didn't attend the Oct. 7 hearing, says he returned to Japan when his U.S. visa expired last December (at about the same time Spears petitioned for the restraining order), but he wanted to resolve the matter so he could return to the U.S.
His lawyer, Simon Robert Hiller, has argued that Shizawa is a harmless, law-abiding citizen and simply confused due to a cultural misunderstanding. Hiller also said his client is "in love" with Spears.
Yokohama-based software entrepreneur Masahiko Shizawa, 43, is suing the city of Los Angeles for allegedly taking away his dignity during a search of his hotel room in October 2002, reports the Associated Press.
On Oct. 7, Shizawa was ordered to stay at least 300 yards from Spears and have no contact with her for the next three years. Superior Court Judge Alan Haber, who issued the restraining order, said Shizawa was "abnormally obsessed and fixated with" the 21-year-old pop star.
But on Monday, Shizawa filed suit against the City of Angels in U.S. District Court. His action didn't state a specific amount, but he estimates that his "loss of human dignity" should come to more than $2 million in damages.
Police spokesman Officer Jason Lee tells AP his department was unaware of the action, but he wouldn't comment on pending litigation.
The lawsuit comes less than a week after Shizawa sued Spears, claiming her guards pulled a gun on him in a public street and told him to leave the area. He seeks unspecified damages for that suit, too. The Spears camp has not commented on the matter.
The pop star first sought a restraining order against Shizawa in December 2002, claiming he tracked her down and tried to contact her at her two homes (in two different states), as well as at the residence of her parents. She said he also sent her photos of himself and notes, including one that stated, "I'm chasing you."
Shizawa, who didn't attend the Oct. 7 hearing, says he returned to Japan when his U.S. visa expired last December (at about the same time Spears petitioned for the restraining order), but he wanted to resolve the matter so he could return to the U.S.
His lawyer, Simon Robert Hiller, has argued that Shizawa is a harmless, law-abiding citizen and simply confused due to a cultural misunderstanding. Hiller also said his client is "in love" with Spears.
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