American businessman and singer wife decline negotiation in lawsuit by Vietnamese ‘king of bolero’ over party injury

Singer Dam Vinh Hung, dubbed Vietnam’s "king of bolero." Photo from Dam Vinh Hung's Facebook

The Superior Court of California revealed on Oct. 31 that Dam Vinh Hung, aged 53, is suing Williams due to an incident at a party hosted at Williams’ home and requesting compensation.

Bich Tuyen disclosed to Thanh Nien Newspaper that the event, organized by businesswoman Mong Linh on Feb. 12 to celebrate the Tet Lunar New Year, was attended by various overseas Vietnamese celebrities including Dam Vinh Hung.

In an interview with Ngoi Sao on Wednesday, Bich Tuyen mentioned her family had received the lawsuit documents from Dam Vinh Hung’s lawyer a few weeks earlier.

"We were surprised and disappointed," she stated. "Gerard was heartbroken to be sued by a friend he deeply values."

She also remarked that Dam Vinh Hung’s compensation demands were neither fair nor reasonable, prompting her and her husband to decline any negotiations and instead await their court date.

Additionally, Bich Tuyen noted discrepancies in the lawsuit’s details, which she claimed do not accurately reflect the true nature of the incident, as she and her husband had discovered upon consulting their legal team.

"Although I wanted to call Dam Vinh Hung directly, I realized this is not the appropriate time," she commented. "All communications between the parties must now proceed through our lawyers and under the authority's supervision."

She recounted that she and Williams had immediately taken Dam Vinh Hung to the emergency room on the evening of the incident and subsequently visited him regularly at the hospital and his residence in the U.S. Even after his recovery and return to Vietnam for a concert in May, which Williams attended, their relationship remained cordial.

"We had a good relationship before this lawsuit," she said. "Whenever Dam Vinh Hung visited the U.S., he would shop and discuss a variety of topics, including music, with Williams."

She also mentioned that Dam Vinh Hung was a regular at their gatherings, and the lawsuit had created discomfort among them all.

The court documents state that Dam Vinh Hung alleges the incident occurred when Williams used an outdoor concrete fountain as both a stage and a bar during the party at his Newport Coast estate. The fountain collapsed and struck the singer, inflicting severe injuries.

Dam Vinh Hung claims Williams failed to perform necessary inspections and maintenance on the property, indirectly leading to the accident. The singer argues that his injuries required him to alter his plans and cancel several performances in March, resulting in substantial financial losses. He is thus seeking compensation for medical costs, lost earnings, and emotional distress.

The civil lawsuit has been accepted by the court, which has scheduled the initial hearing for June 2025 in California.

Dam Vinh Hung, whose birth name is Huynh Minh Hung, launched his career with a fourth-place finish in the 1998 Ho Chi Minh City Television Singing Contest and later received two Dedication Music Awards in 2008 and 2010—Vietnam’s equivalent to the Grammy Awards.

He has served as a judge on several Vietnamese singing shows like The Voice of Vietnam and The X Factor Vietnam.

Williams, a businessman with a technology background, is recognized for his support of the arts and his marriage to Bich Tuyen, with whom he often hosts events attracting various overseas Vietnamese artists.