Jordan Strauss/Invision/APFrank Ocean's beef with Chris Brown is a family matter now.
A cousin of the Channel Orange artist is suing Brown, claiming he ended up as so much collateral damage during an alleged scuffle the singers had over a parking space back in January, according to court documents obtained by E! News.
Following the reported rumble, Ocean claimed to have suffered a cut finger and Brown was seen sporting a cast on his hand. The L.A. County Sheriff's Department investigated the incident and no charges were filed.
In a lawsuit filed today in L.A. Superior Court, Sha'keir Duarte claims that a guy who was with Brown, identified as a defendant in the lawsuit as "Hood," menacingly approached him, asked, "Is there a problem, cuz?" and then punched him after Ocean asked Brown if he was parked in his spot outside of an L.A. recording studio.
Duarte alleges that, as he was punched, he heard Brown yell, "Get that [N-word]!" which Duarte took to be referring to himself.
The plaintiff further contends in his complaint that "Hood" then "commenced to beat and kick him about the head as he lay on the ground," ultimately kicking Duarte "at least 12" times.
After a studio employee yelled at them to stop, Duarte's suit continues, Hood then shouted, "You just got handled," and Brown yelled, "You just got your ass beat and it's on camera."
Duarte is asking for damages in excess of $25,000, alleging battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and conspiracy to commit battery.
Regarding the conspiracy claim, Duarte's suit states that Brown had "been engaged in a public verbal dispute" with Ocean and "has, through social media, attempted to publicly belittle Frank Ocean, and any recording artist or acts associated with him."
The Grammy winners have had their differences, mainly via Twitter, though the remnants of their feud have long since been deleted.
A rep for Brown told TMZ, "Chris Brown does not employ anyone named Hood."