Photographer sues singer Chris Brown

LOS ANGELES, May 28 (UPI) -- A photographer has filed a lawsuit against Chris Brown in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming the singer's bodyguard assaulted him after he snapped a picture.

Robert Rosen, who two years ago accused Irish actor Pierce Brosnan of hitting him outside a restaurant, is suing Brown for assault and battery, E! News said.

The Brosnan case was eventually dismissed.

The Brown lawsuit stems from a March 13 incident, in which Rosen took the singer's picture during a pickup basketball game at a Los Angeles gym and one of Brown's bodyguards allegedly "picked him up by his shorts and physically assaulted him," Rosen claimed in court documents filed Wednesday.

E! said Rosen is also suing the gym where the alleged incident took place.

Brown attorney Mark Geragos told People.com: "This is a specious and frivolous lawsuit by one of the paparazzi seeking publicity and a payday. He's done this before and lost. We will vigorously defend against this."

Brown, 19, last month pleaded not guilty in a separate case to charges he beat up his girlfriend, recording artist Rihanna, in February.