Kid Rock Appears In Georgia Court Over Fight at Waffle House
DECATUR, Georgia (CBS/AP) Updated 4:30 p.m. EST A lawyer for Kid Rock says the musician and his entourage were trying to defend themselves from another customer at a Georgia Waffle House when a fight broke out in 2007.
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Attorney William Horton made the claim Tuesday during his opening statement in DeKalb County Court. The entertainer whose real name is Robert James Ritchie and five members of his entourage are facing a civil lawsuit over the fight.
In the lawsuit, Harlen Akins claims the musician cursed at him during the early-morning fight in October 2007, and members of his entourage beat Akins up and smashed his cell phone.Kid Rock pleaded guilty in March 2008 to a misdemeanor charge of simple battery and was sentenced to 12 months probation and anger-management counseling.
The musician stopped at the restaurant following a performance in Atlanta. The fight reportedly broke out after Akins recognized a woman in Kid Rock's party and spoke to her.
Akins filed the lawsuit in 2007.