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Fading blue-collar star Eddie Money stands to lose $250,000 to a man who stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time with a Playboy Playmate. |
The neighbor of centerfold model Melissa Holiday -- who starred in the stellar home video Wet and Wild VII: Hot Holidays -- filed a civil suit against the gritty singer in Los Angeles Superior Court last Wednesday. Sterling Munce charged Money, a k a Edward Joseph Mahoney, with assault and battery resulting in "severe emotional, mental and psychological injuries," according to the official complaint.
The plaintiff's attorney, Tristam Buckley, told JAMTV that an intoxicated Money slammed his car into Munce while attempting to flee Holiday's residence on Monday, June 29. Accordingto court records, Money assaulted Holiday's male roommate, David Johnson, for bringing back incorrect change from the liquor store. "Money jumped Johnson from behind and grabbed him in a chokehold. Moneybegan to repeatedly punch Johnson about the head and in the face," the complaint said. The singer then reportedly hauled out of Holiday's apartment.
As a skirmish erupted in the street, next door neighbor Munce called 911, hurried outside and helped Holiday keep the drunk singer from driving home. Money got behind the wheel regardless and subsequently struck Munce withhis car in a narrow driveway. The police arrived shortly after and arrested the 49-year-old rocker.
Neither Holiday nor Johnson pressed charges against Money because the former Playboy model is reportedly pursuing a music career and they didn't dare compromise a potential recording contract, Buckley said. Munce, who isundergoing physical therapy, entered negotiations with Money's attorneys immediately following the accident, but the two parties were unable to reach an out-of-court settlement, he said.
"Money's camp made an offer, but it wasn't nearly enough to compensate my client for his injuries," Buckley said. "Their position was that Eddie Money didn't have any money. That seemed odd to me because if you sell 12million albums -- and you engage in wrongful behavior -- you should have the money to cover yourself."
Phone calls made to Money's management were not returned at press time.
Money, who attended the New York Police Academy during the early '70s, has 30 days to answer Munce's charges. A court date will be set once the Brooklyn singer files a response to the $250,000 civil suit. After scoring a number of Top 40 hits in the early '80s, Money slipped into drug addiction and eventually recovered in 1986 with Can't Hold Back, which featured the hit singles "Take Me Home Tonight" and "I Wanna Go Back." (Anni Layne)