Director Accuses Burt Reynolds of Assault in $25-Million Suit

Actor Burt Reynolds was sued for more than $25 million Monday by a director who claimed the actor threatened him several times during the filming of a movie and finally knocked him unconscious on a Las Vegas set.

Also named in the action filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Richard Richards were producer Elliott Kastner, Escalante Productions and Dr. Don Michaelson, a physician who purportedly examined the actor prior to filming and “should have known Reynolds was unfit to work peacefully with others.”

According to attorney Howard L. Weitzman, Richards was so severely injured in the alleged assault last March 13 on the set of the film “Heat” that he has not yet been able to resume working.

Richards said in his suit that he told Kastner of Reynolds’ repeated threats and asked to be relieved as director. But, he said, Kastner refused and threatened to sue Richards. He said Reynolds finally struck him in the face “with tremendous force.”

Richards complained that Kastner knew Reynolds was “emotionally unstable and prone to violence.”

The suit seeks $25 million in punitive damages, $200,000 in compensatory damages and an unspecified amount for general and medical damages and loss of earnings. Richards said he was fired and not paid for his services.

None of the defendants was available late Monday for comment.