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Actor Gary Coleman was involved in what is being described as a pedestrian accident in Utah early Saturday morning. However, it it not clear if this was really an accident, reckless behavior or intentional conduct. The facts of the incident show that initially there was nothing more than a minor altercation involving the actor, best known for his appearances in the hit 80s TV show Diff’rent Strokes, and another man, Colt Rushton, at a bowling alley.
The incident seems to have begun when the actor with his wife, Shannon Price, were at a bowling alley in the early hours of Saturday. Colt began to take a picture of the couple and Coleman demanded Rushton stop taking pictures of he and his wife because Colman was not being paid for the photos. Things developed into an altercation and Coleman got into his car, and as he was hurridly backing out of the parking lot, he crashed his car into another car, and Colt. Colt was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the pedestrian accident.
Police investigating the accident say it’s not clear if it was really an accident, or whether Coleman intended to hurt Rushton. Nobody has been cited in the incident, yet.
If there was more than careless backing of the car to blame in this accident, Coleman should be punished accordingly. Celebrities, including Coleman, have been known to have aggressive reactions when they feel there is an intrusion of their privacy. Perhaps that’s what happened in this case. It’s still no reason for a star to run amok with his car and use his vehicle as a weapon. Even if this incident was a simple accident, Coleman should own up to it and pay for the damages and injuries he caused.
We hope when we hear from Colt Rushton, it will be to seek compensation for the injuries he suffered as a result of this accident.
The Lance Firm is a Salt Lake City, Utah law firm with dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of pedestrian accidents. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (801) 333-7300 or email us.
UPDATE 9/12/08 4:10 p.m.
We are pleased to report that Colt Rushton has contacted our office and Dustin Lance has agreed to represent Mr. Rushton in connection with claims he has against Gary Coleman, Shannon Price and others related to the previously described incident. We hope to provide additional information in the near future when we complete our full investigation into the incident.
UPDATE 9/18/08 6:50 p.m.
We have completed our investigation and all of the witnesses very clearly support Mr. Rushton's claims. Mr. Coleman's conduct was way out of line and he will have to answer for it in the civl lawsuit that has been filed. Interesting, this is not Mr. Coleman's first assault on a fan. Moreover, our investigation revealed this is not Mr. Coleman's first tirade against a fan, or any person for that matter, that approaches him notices him, or acknowledges him in any way.
One person on a comment board posted the following:
I used to work at a retail store where him and his wife would visit. Every instance I was involved with him he was soooo rude! One time, (this is so pathetic) I was helping him carry something and he said, "Help, help! Get me a tissue, now! My nose is running!" Dead serious. I just stood there... because... uh... just because. The snot was running down his face into his mouth and it was dried all around his nose and on his lip. Ugh... gross. Anyway pretty much not only did he want me to carry his stuff for him, he also wanted me to wipe his nose.
Another posted this:
We parked next to him at the Apple store in Orem. He banged his car door against our SUV. (he drives a little black American sports car) I came out and said to my wife "Gary Coleman is in the store" she said "is that the little guy that went in the store?" I said "yes" Then she told me how he hit our car with his door and she rolled down the window and said something to him. She got out to go into another store and this time I stayed in the car(baby was sleeping). I watched him notice her as she was going into the deli and he was coming out of the apple store. He opens his car door assuming she was out of the car and intentionally hits our car door again with his. I couldn't believe it.
Another posted this:
Met him when I pulled up to the other side of the pump he was using (didn't notice him at first) at a Provo gas station. "That's Gary Coleman!" He didn't look very happy. Not surprising. Anyway, I left the man alone when he wanted to charge for his autograph.
In my opinion it is time already for Gary to grow up, act like an adult and treat others with the same respect he wants. Like it it not, he is a celebrity (I use that term loosely). If he is going to try to make a living off of his status, DON'T FREAK OUT WHEN SOMEONE NOTICES YOU AND PAYS ATTENTION! He should be happy people still care. After all, if they didn't, he couldn't get paid for pimping usurious loans on the TV and internet, he couldn't get on Divorce Court with his new wife and he couldn't run for governor of California or any of the other things he has done to remind us he is still there.
I really am looking forward to taking Gary's deposition and asking him why he hates the rest of the world so much.
Meanwhile, the smear Colt Rushton campaign has already started. Poor guy is going to learn what it is like to face an insurance company, their lawyers, their investigators, their hired gun doctors, THE WORKS. No holds barred. All because someone else ran him over. And people say plaintiff's injury attorneys are the problem. They have no idea.
Until then.
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