O.J. Simpson's friend Scotto sues, says Naples man beat him in road rage

A close friend of O.J. Simpson's filed a lawsuit against a Naples man he said beat him during a road rage incident in April.

Thomas Scotto, of East Naples, said he had finished an interview with a television reporter and was driving her and another woman to their North Naples hotel April 13 when a man got out of his vehicle, approached Scotto's window and attacked him along Vanderbilt Beach Road.

Scotto said the man, Gary West, 80, punched him and slammed the car door on him several times, hurting his shoulders.

"I still can't move my arms," Scotto said Wednesday. "I need two shoulder replacements from the assault. He destroyed both shoulders."

Scotto filed a civil lawsuit against West, of Naples, seeking more than $15,000 in damages, according to a complaint filed in Collier County court.

According to the complaint, West "violently and brutally attacked" Scotto.

West's answer to the complaint alleged Scotto attacked him first and that West defended himself.

A message left for West was not returned by Wednesday evening. His attorney did not reply to an email requesting comment.

Scotto's attorney, Gary Layne Green, said Scotto denies being the aggressor and that two witnesses confirm West attacked him. 

Depositions are scheduled for next week.

Scotto is known as a close friend of Simpson and told USA TODAY Sports this week that he invited Simpson to move into his East Naples home if he is paroled Thursday.