Court date set for Gary Coleman case

PAYSON, Utah, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Utah's Payson Justice Court has set a hearing date for former television sit-com star Gary Coleman's disorderly conduct and reckless driving case.

Coleman, 40, was the star of the 1980s "Diff'rent Strokes," but his career stalled after the show ended.

He is accused of hitting Colt Rushton in the chest, taking his cell phone and backing into Rushton with his truck after Rushton allegedly tried to take photos of him outside a bowling alley last month.

The Salt Lake Tribune said Justice Court Judge David Dahlquist granted Coleman's attorney Randy Kester's request to reschedule a pretrial conference for Dec. 2.

Rushton's attorney Dustin Lance told the newspaper Coleman should be held accountable for his actions, which Lance called "conscious stupidity."

In a statement released to People magazine shortly after the alleged incident, Lance said, "This wasn't a situation of paparazzi or stalker-razzi, this was a fan snapping two photographs with a cell phone."

Rushton reportedly was treated for minor injuries at a hospital and is suing Coleman, seeking payment for his medical bills, pain and suffering and also punitive damages.