Woman suing after `Jersey Shore' attack

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida woman hopes to sue after, she said, a "Jersey Shore" cast member attacked her at a nightclub.

The incident reportedly occurred at Club Dream on South Beach, Friday night. Twenty-four-year-old Kristen DeMinco said, Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola from the MTV show "Jersey Shore" hit her twice. Four days after the incident, DeMinco still has a black eye. "It still hurts," she said.

Meanwhile, the attorney for the reality show star accused of beating up DeMinco is claiming her innocence. He said his client will be cleared of any wrongdoing once all the facts are known.

DeMinco described what occurred when Giancola saw her speaking with Ronnie, another "Jersey Shore" cast member and Giancola's boyfriend. "She saw me talking to him, asked why I was talking to her boyfriend. You know, you can calm down; we're just talking. I'm not trying to hit on him," said DeMinco. "She exchanged bad words at me, I exchanged bad words back. She hit me twice in the face. She was just emotionless, hit me twice and then just kind of walked away."

"Jersey Shore" has been filming the second season of the show in South Florida. However, this incident is one of several cases of the show's cast members becoming violent at South Beach clubs. Two weeks ago, RadarOnline released video of another cast member, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, involved in a physical altercation at a bar on South Beach.

A New Jersey judge has allowed a lawsuit to proceed against the reality show's producers; the lawsuit alleges that the cast provokes fights in order to boost the show's ratings. For this reason, South Beach clubs have expressed their desire to see the cast and crew of the MTV show return to New Jersey, although the cast was allowed into Club Dream on Friday. Management at Club Dream could not be reached for comment.

According to DeMinco, she and other club-goers signed a consent waiver Friday night, but she did not think she would be attacked. "She punched me on this side and then on this side," said DeMinco.

The victim said she did not call police after Giancola hit her; she also refused to say whether or not she saw a doctor for her injuries. However, DeMinco did file a police report, Tuesday. "I just think that they need to learn a lesson. This isn't acceptable for people to be going around, hitting people just for TV," she said.

The state attorney will ultimately decide whether or not to pursue criminal battery charges against Giancola. Meanwhile, DeMinco and her lawyers plan to file a civil lawsuit against Giancola and the cable network MTV.

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