\nLos Angeles Superior Court Judge Elizabeth A. Grimes ruled that paparazzo Alison Silva cannot seek punitive damages against Reeves, whose films include \u201cSpeed\u201d and \u201cThe Matrix.\u201d
\nSilva claimed he was struck by Reeves\u2019 Porsche while photographing the actor in March 2007, causing serious injuries. Reeves\u2019 attorneys argued in court documents that Silva placed his hand on the actor\u2019s car and tripped over his own feet.
\nGrimes ruled Monday that Reeves didn\u2019t act maliciously as he moved his car forward to leave a parking space in a residential area about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
\n\u201cThey offered no evidence that the car Mr. Reeves was driving touched Mr. Silva,\u201d said Reeves\u2019 attorney, Mark Williams. \u201cWe\u2019re confident that should this case go to a jury, they\u2019ll find in favor of Mr. Reeves.\u201d
\nSilva can still pursue a negligence claim, which Reeves did not contest. Silva\u2019s attorney, Joseph Farzam, said the ruling, while a setback, would not deter the case from going to trial in late October.
\n\u201cMr. Silva is still entitled to fully recover his damages for the injuries he sustained,\u201d Farzam said.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s much easier to prove that someone was being careless,\u201d Farzam said, \u201cthan to prove that Mr. Reeves intended to harm Mr. Silva.\u201d
\nFarzam said the fall to the pavement fractured Silva\u2019s wrist and that he has already undergone one unsuccessful surgery. Another surgery is scheduled, but Farzam said Silva could remain partially disabled even if it is successful.
\nIn a signed declaration, Reeves said he stopped the car after Silva fell and brought the photographer water. He recounted Silva as saying, \u201cI am a paparazzo. He is a movie star. It was an accident!\u201d according to court documents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"