After seeking compensation for losing two teeth in a fight, a man’s decision to attack an actor and his family has cost him around half a million dollars.
Here Come the Habibs star Sam Alhaje, 30, was with his family at their home in western Sydney on January 24, 2021 when an aggressive Mohammad Elassaad entered the premises and began the physical assault.
Mr Elassaad lived near the Greenacre house.
The quantitative analyst had been in an altercation with Mr Alhaje’s brother, Mohammad, in the early afternoon of December 31, 2020, where he suffered bleeding from his mouth and lip.
Sam Alhaje (pictured) was with his family on January 24, 2021 when an aggressive Mohammad Elassaad entered the premises and began the physical assault.
He was seen missing two front teeth when he arrived at Mr. Alhaje’s house at midnight that night, asking for $7,000 to cover future dental work.
When negotiations failed over the next few weeks, Elassaad made his fateful journey down the road to confront the Alhajes once again on January 24.
Alhaje, who played Toufic Habib in the comedy Nine, suffered facial injuries after being punched twice in the face and was taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.
The 30-year-old then filed a claim for damages in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in August 2021.
On Thursday, Acting Judge Michael Elkaim dismissed Elassaad’s claims that he acted in self-defense, finding that the blows were intentional, forceful and intended to cause injury.
“Despite his claims that he was being ambushed and wanted to escape, (Mr. Elassaad) did no such thing but continued his aggressive attitude,” the judge wrote.
“Although under the guise of acting in self-defense, (Mr. Elassaad) had a 100 percent success rate in the two punches he launched.”
Judge Elkaim awarded the actor $454,340 to cover general damages, past and future economic losses and medical expenses.
Sam Alhaje (pictured right), who played Toufic Habib, was punched twice in the face.
This included aggravated damages due to Mr Elassaad’s “highhanded and outrageous” conduct.
However, the court refused to give Mr. Alhaje $23,000 for a future rhinoplasty procedure, also known as a nose job, after finding that the proposed surgery had nothing to do with the assault.
A decision will be made later on whether Elassaad will have to cover the actor’s legal costs.