Former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen is being sued over a fight with an autograph-seeker at an upscale Southern California restaurant.

Attorneys filed the $4 million lawsuit on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. They say Camran Shafighi asked Pippen for an autograph for his girlfriend's son and instead got a "brutal and unjustified" attack.

Sheriff's officials say Pippen was eating with his family on June 23 at Nobu restaurant in Malibu. They say Shafighi was taking pictures and sought an autograph both in the restaurant and the parking lot. Investigators say an argument turned violent and Shafighi was treated at a hospital for a head injury.

Pippen was questioned but not arrested. No charges have been filed.

An after-hours phone message for Pippen's attorneys was not immediately returned.

Associated Press

(China Daily 07/13/2013 page16)