Kid Rock appears in suburban Atlanta court for lawsuit over Waffle House fight

Kid Rock appears in Ga. court over lawsuit

DECATUR, Ga. — Jury selection has been completed in a lawsuit against musician Kid Rock stemming from a fight at a Waffle House restaurant near Atlanta.

Robert James Ritchie, better known as Kid Rock, and five members of his entourage appeared Tuesday before a DeKalb County judge.

In the lawsuit, Harlen Akins claims the musician cursed at him during the early-morning fight in October 2007, and members of his entourage beat Akins up and smashed his cell phone.

Kid Rock pleaded guilty in March 2008 to a misdemeanor charge of simple battery.

The musician stopped at the restaurant following a performance in Atlanta. The fight reportedly broke out after Akins recognized a woman in Kid Rock’s party and spoke to her.

Akins filed the lawsuit in 2007.