Former 'Hills' star loses civil case

LOS ANGELES -- Former "Laguna Beach" personality Jason Wahler owes a tow truck driver $5,000 in damages for a confrontation more than two years ago, a jury in his civil trial found Thursday.

Dario Stevenson said Wahler punched him in the face and hurled racial slurs at him and other blacks during a fight in September 2006. Eight women and four men decided that Wahler committed battery during the scuffle.

Wahler, who also appeared on "The Hills," acknowledged testimony that he used racial slurs. Jurors rejected justifications by Wahler's attorney that his client was defending his girlfriend and was too drunk to know what he was saying.

Wahler's attorney declined to comment Thursday after the verdict.

Stevenson, who is black, claimed he suffered emotional distress from Wahler's slurs. Jurors agreed the celebrity's conduct was "outrageous," but did not find that Stevenson suffered severe emotional distress.

Jurors will return Friday to hear testimony and decide whether Stevenson deserves punitive damages. The driver's attorney had hoped the jury would award Stevenson up to $1 million, but because of the small award announced Thursday, damages will be capped around $55,000.

While disappointed with the amount, Daniel Wagner, who represented Stevenson, said he was pleased that the jury found Wahler acted maliciously.

"This case was to right a wrong," he said.

Stevenson sued Wahler and girlfriend Kristen DeLuca in August 2007. The case against DeLuca was settled before Wahler's trial began.