Diddy puffs and huffs flames over lawsuit

By Stone Martindale Mar 6, 2007, 6:47 GMT

02/10/2007 - Sean "Diddy" Combs - nice....© Chris Hatcher / Photorazzi

You knew this was coming. The man allegedly smacked by Sean "Diddy" Puff Daddy Combs on Oscar night has come out guns a blazin' with lawyers in tow.

Realtor Gerard Rechnitzer has sued Diddy for assault and battery, saying that Diddy "intentionally, willfully, knowingly and unlawfully attacked, assaulted and battered" Rechnitzer in the parking lot of Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel after a post-Academy Awards party at a hot nightclub.

According to the lawsuit, Diddy's doings caused Rechnitzer to "fly backwards several feet" and allegedly hit a vehicle that was behind him, after which Combs pushed Rechnitzer's girlfriend, who he was allegedly hitting on prior to all this, and attempted to spit on one of their friends.

Rechnitzer has accused Diddy of negligence and is seeking $ damages for the incident that, per court documents filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, occurred "without any provocation on the part of the plaintiff."

According to the lawsuit, the story goes that after last call, around 2:30 AM on Feb. 26, Rechnitzer and his group were leaving the Roosevelt, when he saw his girlfriend talking to Diddy.

Diddy's entourage motioned Rechnitzer to approach Diddy, Rechnitzer went over and stood next to his girl and Diddy as they continued their conversation.

Then, the lawsuit states, Diddy "suddenly looked at Rechnitzer in a threatening and ominous manner" and yelled, "What the f--- you looking at, dude?" followed by, "I'll smack flames out your ass!" 

TMZ.com reported at the time that Rechnitzer tried to get his lady to leave with him after about five minutes of yammering with Diddy, but allegedly Diddy had invited her to accompany him to yet another party.

TMZ reported the unhappy Rechnitzer interrupted the conversation yet again to move her along, after which Combs allegedly smacked him down.

No word yet on why the girlfriend was compelled to keep talking to Diddy when her boyfriend was asking her to leave for the evening.