ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100076
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH
Comedian Martin Lawrence finds nothing funny about claims that he beat up a guest at his bachelor party in January 1995.
An attorney for the actor filed legal papers denying allegations that he choked and smashed a champagne bottle over the head of a Virginia Beach man hours before Lawrence married a local beauty queen on Jan. 7, 1995.
``Martin Lawrence never touched the guy,'' said attorney Edward J. Powers of Norfolk. ``I'm not sure how the guy hurt himself, if he hurt himself at all.''
Fentreal Ferebee filed a $2 million lawsuit in April in Virginia Beach Circuit Court alleging Lawrence grabbed him by the throat and smashed a bottle of Dom Perignon over his head.
Ferebee claims Lawrence attacked him as he made a toast at Lawrence's party at the Professional Club, a Virginia Beach nightclub. He reported the incident to police immediately, but police concluded Ferebee's report was unfounded and no one was charged.
In the reply, Lawrence said Ferebee was injured by his own negligence. Powers told The Virginian-Pilot that Ferebee crashed the private party, grabbed the microphone and began making nasty remarks.
``There was no toast that I am aware of,'' Powers said. ``Basically, they were a bunch of expletives and not very complimentary.''
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 34 linesby CNB