Russell Crowe, once again more famous for being really angry all the time than for starring in films, is expected to be hit with a punitive damages lawsuit this week.

Josh Estrada is likely to start a lawsuit against Russell Crowe after the actor reportedly threw a telephone at the porter after becoming frustrated in the Mercer hotel in New York earlier this month. But that’s not all he’s said to have done…

Russell Crowe (DVDs/CDs), star of the disappointingly-received Cinderella Man,
apparently became annoyed after trying to call his wife. After several
attempts to complain to the hotel desk, Crowe was said to have asked
for the porter’s name. When he found this information out, he said "I’m
coming down to see you, Josh" and cursed a bit.

According to witnesses, Russell Crowe then appeared at the hotel
desk and, holding the phone over his head with both his hands, hurled
it at Estrada, knocking him to the floor.

Russell then picked up a ceramic bowl and launched that at the porter, for it to explode on a wall behind him.

Then, in a moment of theatrical genius, Crowe is reported to have taken a large bow and then pulled a karate stance.

Most of the violent incident was captured on the hotel’s security
cameras, and the footage is now with the Manhatten district attorney.

Estrada’s lawsuit comes in addition to the criminal charges Crowe
faces, of felonious assault and criminal possession of a weapon. If
found guilty, he could spend up to seven years in prison. Even if he
escapes prison, the charges put his career into doubt – a criminal
record would undoubtedly make getting an American work visa much harder.

Perhaps sensing the serious trouble he is in, Russell Crowe has
appeared on three separate US TV shows to deeply, unreservedly
apologise to the incident – a fact mentioned by his attorney Gerald
Lefcourt.

Stick with hecklerspray for more reports of Crowe’s predicament.

Related stories:

Russell Crowe Arrested For Assault

Russell Crowe Says Sorry On TV 

[story by Stuart Heritage]