Kanye West's Paparazzi Fight Charges Dropped

By Kamika Dunlap on November 04, 2009 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Looks like Kanye West may have caught a break.

A court commissioner recently dismissed criminal charges against West and his road manager dating back to an altercation with paparazzi at the Los Angeles airport.

Misdemeanor charges were filed against the rapper, notorious for temper tantrums, and against his manager after they were arrested on Sept. 11, 2008 for a scuffle with two photographers.

West also made headlines earlier year for interrupting Taylor Swift's MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech.

The incident at the Los Angeles International Airport was recorded and broadcast by TMZ celebrity website.

West and photographers have reached civil settlements over the case.

West's attorney, Blair Berk, successfully argued the case should be dismissed because of the agreement and because California law allows for certain criminal cases to be settled out of court, according to USA Today.

However, Deputy City Attorney Felton Newell argued West and his manager intended to commit a felony and that one of the photographers suffered minor injuries.

Berk noted that county prosecutors declined to file felony charges in the case, and that it took city attorneys more than six months to file misdemeanor battery, vandalism, and grand theft charges against West.

Berk argued that the case was "wildly overcharged" and that it should be dismissed in the interests of justice, fairness and common sense.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Mark Zuckman did just that. But in addition to the 12 hours of anger management classes West and his manager completed, the commissioner wants them to perform 50 hours of community service.

And just in case you don't remember Kanye's past tirades in headline news, click here.