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SANTA MONICA (CNS) - A man who alleged Peter Dante called him a "sissy," told him he had a "Jew nose" and chased him around a Santa Monica restaurant in 2022 has reached a settlement of his lawsuit against the "Grandma's Boy" actor.
Plaintiff Scott Burns' Santa Monica Superior Court lawsuit alleged elder abuse, assault, defamation-slander and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. On Friday, Judge H. Jay Ford III dismissed the case after the attorneys filed joint papers stating that an accord was reached, but no terms were divulged.
Burns is in his late 60s and Dante is 54. According to the plaintiff's complaint, on Jan. 3, 2022, at about 5:15 p.m., Burns went to Lares, a Mexican food restaurant on Pico Boulevard where he regularly dines. Burns, who has heart disease, entered through the back door due to management's COVID-19 safety protocols and was directed to his table after his temperature was taken and he showed his vaccination card, the suit stated.
Dante was "purposefully blocking" the area Burns needed to pass through and although the plaintiff excused himself, a visibly drunk Dante began "verbally assaulting" him, according to the suit brought in January 2022.
Dante then began asking Burns invasive and personal questions in a menacing tone, and called the plaintiff's answers "stupid," the suit stated.
"Plaintiff was humiliated in the small space in front of the staff whom he knows well and the other diners," the suit stated.
Dante, who allegedly ignored Burns' requests to stop talking to him, called the plaintiff a "sissy" and asked if he was going to do anything about it, but Burns responded that he did not want to fight, according to the suit.
Dante made antisemitic remarks about Burns' appearance, saying he was an "old Jew" with a "Jew nose," the suit alleged.
Dante later approached Burns' table and stood over the plaintiff in a threatening manner, leaving Burns feeling he was about to be attacked, the suit stated. When Burns told a waiter he was leaving, Dante yelled, "See sissy running away," according to the suit.
Dante chased Burns around a large table and the plaintiff was able to call the police, telling the operator to stay on the phone with him because he feared for his safety, the suit stated.
The restaurant owner's daughter approached and kept Dante away from Burns, then told the actor, "Pay your bill and get out. You're out of here," the suit stated.
Dante eventually left. Burns, who felt humiliated and believes his reputation was damaged, has continued to have nightmares as well as a feeling of apprehension when he is in public places, especially while visiting Lares, according to the suit.
In his court papers, Dante's attorney stated that the encounter began with Burns touching and verbally assaulting Dante, making the plaintiff the "instigator and aggressor" and giving the actor the right to defend himself.
Dante further alleged the confrontation happened "in the heat of the moment" and ended amicably with both parties finishing their meal, the actor's lawyer also stated in his court papers.