‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ Star Hit with Battery and Assault Claims Over 2023 Road Rage Incident
Ian Ziering, best known for his role on Beverly Hills, 90210, is facing multiple legal claims following a New Year’s Eve incident in 2023.
According to a civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County and reviewed by PEOPLE, Ziering is accused of battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, and negligence.
The plaintiff, Jacob Hernandez, alleges that Ziering verbally and physically attacked him during a road rage encounter on December 31, 2023.
Hernandez, 20 at the time, and a friend were riding motorbikes through heavy traffic in Los Angeles when they paused in front of a stopped Mercedes-Benz carrying Ziering. The complaint states that Hernandez was not blocking traffic.
According to the filing, Ziering allegedly exited his car and began yelling at Hernandez. The lawsuit claims that Ziering then shoved Hernandez without provocation, causing him and his friend to fall, damaging both bikes and leaving the riders injured. The confrontation reportedly escalated into a larger melee involving other people who came to Hernandez’s aid. Hernandez says the altercation was caught on video.
“Ziering’s actions were intentional, unnecessary, and posed a foreseeable risk of physical and emotional harm, which Hernandez in fact suffered,” the complaint reads.
Hernandez also claims that Ziering used his celebrity status to influence the story in the media and social media, portraying Hernandez as the aggressor. According to the lawsuit, this led to Hernandez’s arrest on May 21, 2024, and he was held on $50,000 bail.
He was later informed that the District Attorney would not pursue charges. The case alleges that the negative publicity and arrest caused Hernandez severe emotional distress, including anxiety, panic attacks, and paranoia.
“Hernandez had his name negatively plastered in the media as a result of the public megaphone which Ziering held, lying by omission in multiple interviews,” the filing states.
The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages and requests a jury trial.
At the time of the incident, videos reportedly showed Ziering surrounded by people on mini-bikes. LAPD confirmed a physical altercation occurred on Hollywood Boulevard between a motorist and several minibike riders. The police report noted that Ziering’s vehicle was vandalized while his 10-year-old daughter was in the car, but neither sustained serious injuries.
On January 1, 2024, Ziering posted on Instagram about the incident, describing it as an unsettling confrontation and claiming he exited his car to check for damage. He added that the encounter made him “deeply concerned about the growing boldness of such groups who disrupt public safety and peace.”
This case highlights a clash between a celebrity and members of the public that has now entered the courts, with both legal and personal reputational stakes involved.
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