Busta Rhymes sues alleged victim

Busta Rhymes has filed a civil counter-claim against the woman who accused him of assaulting her in late 2002.

The filing of a counter-claim against 22-year-old Celine Giguere came around the same time as a Superior Court judge's decision to allow Giguere's own civil suit against Rhymes to continue at the Superior Court level.

Giguere, whose civil suit is based on five counts -- assault and battery, assault, intentional affliction of emotional distress, reckless infliction of emotional distress and intimidation -- seeks about $105,000 in damages from the rapper and actor.

But in recently filed court documents, Rhymes' attorneys have submitted a counter-claim alleging six counts of assault, assault and battery, intentional affliction of emotional distress, reckless infliction of emotional distress, slander and abuse of process. Although Rhymes is seeking financial damages, interest and attorney fees. no actual monetary award was disclosed.

Rhymes first crossed paths with Giguere on the evening of Dec. 7, 2002, when he was performing an impromptu concert at the Pleasant Street pub.During the show, Giguere apparently reached out and grabbed Rhymes' chin. Then, according to her statements to police, Rhymes became enraged, grabbed her by the hair, slammed her into a table and told her he would kill her if she touched him again. Rhymes' own civil suit against Giguere includes a charge of slander that relates directly to her statement that he threatened her life if she touched him. After several criminal court hearings regarding the incident, both Giguere and Rhymes were each charged with assault and battery. Rhymes was placed on probation for six months this past March, while Giguere had her case dismissed.