People News

Patti LaBelle accused of water assault on child in NYC lobby

By April MacIntyre Nov 15, 2011, 5:33 GMT

08/30/2011 - Patti LaBelle - The Rachael Ray Show Filming on The Streets of Philadelphia on August 30, 2011 - Streets of Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA, USA © Paul Froggatt / PR Photos

R&B diva Patti LaBelle allegedly swore and doused a half a bottle of water on a mother and child after a parenting squabble in an apartment building lobby, according to a lawsuit filed Monday and the family's lawyer.

The AP reports that LaBelle was sued by Kevin and Roseanna Monk, residents of the Manhattan building where LaBelle stayed while appearing in the Broadway musical "Fela!" last fall, according to their source, Monks' lawyer, Samuel L. Davis.

Allegedly, LaBelle mouthed off to Roseanna Monk for letting her child take some steps away from the mother as she wrangled luggage and a car seat in the building's lobby on the afternoon of Nov. 11, 2010.

After Monk allegedly told LaBelle it was not her business, the singer allegedly threw water on them from a bottle she was carrying and then launched into an obscenity-filled tirade, he said.

Roseanna Monk claims the singer charged at her and tried to hit her, Davis said.

The Monks filed a complaint with police, and the lawsuit comes five months after a West Point cadet sued LaBelle over a Houston airport scuffle with her bodyguards.

According to the AP, Davis said Roseanna Monk wanted LaBelle to apologize and give a donation to a children's cancer charity but was refused.

The Monks feel "someone's got to teach her even a diva can't attack and frighten and assault regular people in the building," their lawyer said.