Russell Crowe to spend $15 million to settle case

Russell Crowe

New Zealand-born Hollywood star Russell Crowe is reportedly planning to cough up on the mother-of-all telephone bills -- more than $15 million to a hotel porter he allegedly hit when he threw the telephone in a fit of rage.

Crowe, 41, was arrested and charged on June 6 with second-degree assault after throwing a telephone at Nestor Estrada and hitting him in the face, police said at the time.

Now he is expected to pay £6 million ($15.61 million) to Mr Estrada in a deal to stop the case going to court next month, British newspaper The Daily Mail reported this weekend.

Mr Estrada, 28, suffered a cut cheek after Crowe threw the telephone, frustrated at not being able to get an outside line to call his wife, singer Danielle Spencer.

The Daily Mail reported Crowe would risk being jailed and then banned from the United States if he was convicted and so was preparing to pay the massive sum and avoid the court case, scheduled for September.

"It is almost certain that Russell would be found guilty and this would have a near fatal effect on his long-term career," a source told the newspaper.

"Not only could he be prevented from shooting movies in the US but it would also prevent him from undertaking publicity tours or even attending awards shows such as the Oscars. He absolutely needs this to go away and it will."

Crowe is currently in Australia with his family and was seen watching his favourite South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league side as they notched up a rare win over the Canberra Raiders on Saturday.

Mr Estrada's lawyer Eric Franz has said a statement will be issued soon .

- NZPA