Belissa Cohen, who says she's covered celebrities--Love included--for 12 years for such publications as the L.A. Weekly, claims she had her hair pulled, her groin kneed and her face smacked by Love's doll parts after she tried snapping a photo of the the former Mrs. Cobain at an L.A. fashion show last month.
Now, Cohen's suing Love, seeking unspecified monetary damages for assault, battery, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to the suit, filed Thursday in L.A. Superior Court, Cohen merely pulled out her camera and aimed it at Love, who was attending the fashion show as a guest and posing for another photographer. Then, all of a sudden, The People vs. Larry Flynt star went Xena on the reporter.
While charging her, Cohen claims Love yelled, "Don't be taking pictures of me! Do you think I'm not still punk rock?" The journalist also claims Love boasted afterward: "I just hit Belissa Cohen, and it felt good."
For counsel, Cohen has selected ultra-high-profile attorney Gloria Allred, who goes into this battle with a clear agenda: While celebs are getting laws enacted to protect them from paparazzi, there should also be legislation "to consider the other side of the story and protect the rights of the working press."
Indeed, this thing is shaping up to be a rights-of-the-working-press battle, with Love publicist Heidi Schaffer calling the incident "basically another out-of-control paparazzo who has targeted a celebrity." She adds, "Courtney intends to defend the lawsuit vigorously in the court, not in the press."
Of course, this isn't the first time Love--who Cohen calls "very scary" and "physically imposing"--has gotten in trouble for busting some butt.
Allred points out that Love pleaded guilty in 1995 for attacking fellow singer Kathleen Hanna and was ordered to seek anger-management counseling.
Adds Cohen, in a statement: "For her own sake and that of the community with whom she will have future contact, I'd like to see Ms. Love get some help."