AP Photo/Evan Agostini, Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesThis wasn't the kind of chaser Tila Tequila was thinking of, but it'll have to do.
The MTV reality starlet has filed a civil suit against her San Diego Charger ex-boyfriend, Shawne Merriman, over the September he-said, she-said spat that ended up with her in the hospital but with the San Diego district attorney refusing to push criminal charges.
In the complaint filed in San Diego County under her real name, Tila Nguyen, the petite Shot at Love star accuses the NFL star of some serious unnecessary roughness. She claims Merriman grabbed her neck, nearly choked her, threw her to the ground and then held her against her will at his suburban home following a long night of partying.
But that's not her only explosive allegation...
Tequila claims in court documents that Merriman has a substance-abuse problem that, coupled with a bad temper, triggered their ugly fight. She also says that Merriman humiliated her over her bisexuality.
The lawsuit comes complete with photographic exhibits showing bruises on her arms. Her lawyer stresses the physical differences between the former twosome—Merriman stands 6-foot-4 and weighs nearly 280 pounds, while Nguyen is just 4-foot-11.
The 27-year-old Tequila sought treatment at a local hospital before filing a citizen's arrest warrant with police accusing the 25-year-old Merriman of battery and false imprisonment, both felonies.
Merriman's defensive line? He claimed Tequila was hammered and he was only doing his gentlemanly best to keep her from getting behind the wheel. He has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
As the drama played out on her Twitter page, complete with Tequila disclosing suicidal thoughts, the D.A. eventually declined to prosecute, citing insufficient evidence.
Now she's literally looking for payback in the form of monetary damages for assault, battery and emotional distress.
(Originally published Nov. 17, 2009, at 9:22 a.m. PT)
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