The assault charges filed by photographer Belissa Cohen against singer and actress Courtney Love last Thursday in Los Angeles mark just one battle in a long and dirty war against abusive celebrities. Cohen's lawyer, Gloria Allred also spearheaded the lawsuit against Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, who pleaded no contest to charges that he assaulted and beat a videographer outside the Viper Room in Los Angeles in September 1996. And Allred says this is only the beginning.

Just days before Cohen filed suit against the Hole frontwoman and media sponge, celebrities including Michael J. Fox and Paul Reiser testified before a House Judiciary Committee about the dangers of overzealous press photographers. Their accounts of paparazzi torture, combined with comments from Barbra Streisand, Sharon Stone and Tom Hanks, among others, will likely help push through at least one of three anti-paparazzi bills now before Congress.

The bills, proposed by two California representatives and Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein, aim to curb intrusive photographing and expand the definition of trespassing in order to give celebrities more legal rights when dealing with frenzied photographers.

The Love lawsuit represents a counterattack by journalists who claim they have been abused by celebrities acting above and beyond the law, and who feel that the bills, if passed, will infringe on their First Amendment right to a free press. Though her case may not go before a judge this year, Cohen's claims of "assault, battery, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress" play perfectly into the current game plan for First Amendment proponents.

Allred has even sent letters to bill sponsors Rep. Elton Gallegly and Rep. Mary Bono encouraging them to consider journalists' rights.

"We want a just result for Ms. Cohen," Allred told JAMTV on Tuesday. "This case does send a message that celebrities have no right to attack photographers, and that photographers need to have protection under the law."

In her civil lawsuit, Cohen claims that Love pulled her hair, kneed her in the groin and punched her in the face after she snapped a picture of the rough-and-tumble singer at a Los Angeles fashion show on April 25. In a recent press release, Cohen said: "I make a living as a journalist, and my reputation for good judgment is crucial to my ability to do my job. Ms. Love's unwillingness to control herself put my health, safety and reputation at great risk, which is unacceptable. Ms. Love's conduct also sends the message that celebrities are somehow above the law."

The veteran entertainment journalist has filed a police report against Love, and is seeking undisclosed damages in a civil suit. Cohen has met Love on several occasions while reporting and photographing for several celebrity-watch columns in Los Angeles. She is currently acting as associate editor of IN Los Angeles magazine.

"I was extremely frightened by the violence and viciousness of Ms. Love's physical attack upon me in front of others at a crowded fashion show," Cohen said. "That attack caused me pain and a great deal of humiliation." (Anni Layne)