LOS ANGELES – Omar Sharif has been sued in Los Angeles Superior Court by a parking attendant who says the actor beat him in the face and called him a “stupid Mexican” because the attendant could not accept European currency from Sharif after a $500 dinner at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills.

Plaintiff Juan Anderson claims the attack was a hate crime and that after police were called, Sharif offered him $50 “to pretend the attack did not happen.” Anderson says he refused and Sharif fled, with a female companion. The suit adds, “Ironically, in the upcoming ABC mini-series ‘The Ten Commandments’ Mr. Sharif is slated to perform the role of Jethro, an Old Testament figure revered as a symbol of justice and intercultural harmony.” The attack allegedly occurred on June 11. “Mr.Sharif spent approximately $500 on the dinner, during which he is believed to have consumed significant quantities of alcohol,” the suit states. “Plaintiff Juan Anderson works as a parking valet at Mastro’s. Mr. Anderson, who is forty-eight years old, earns $6.75 per hour plus tips.”

Sharif allegedly became belligerent because his Porsche Cayenne was not waiting for him when he left the restaurant. Sharif allegedly became “furious” when Anderson would not accept a 20-Euro note, because he believed he was not authorized to do so – even though “Mr. Sharif protested to Mr. Anderson that Euros are worth more than U.S. dollars”. It turned out that Sharif’s dinner companion had given the parking stub to another attendant, who was fetching the car, the suit states, and while the other attendant was delivering it, Sharif allegedly repeated his racial insults to the plaintiff, who was born in Guatemala. The Porsche was delivered and Anderson helped Sharif into it. “As he closed the door, Mr. Anderson, who was hurt by the racial slurs, told Mr. Sharif in a soft voice through the car window, ‘Good night. I’m sorry you talk too much about me.’ Hearing this, Mr. Sharif became rageful,” the suit states. He allegedly “stormed out of the vehicle” and beat Anderson again, “while shouting anti-Latino racial insults.” Anderson, represented by Carpenter & Zuckerman of Los Angeles, seeks damages for assault and battery, civil rights violations and emotional distress.