Vietnamese ‘king of bolero’ Dam Vinh Hung sues US businessman over party injury

By Nguyen Thao November 21, 2024 | 12:17 am PT

Singer Dam Vinh Hung, known as Vietnam’s “king of bolero,” has filed a lawsuit in California against businessman Gerard Richard Williams, alleging that negligence at Williams’ home led to the singer losing several toes.

Vietnamese singer Dam Vinh Hung. Photo from Hung's Facebook

The lawsuit, disclosed by the Superior Court of California on Oct. 31, stems from an accident at Williams’ residence.

According to the lawsuit documents, Dam Vinh Hung, 53, alleges that Williams used an outdoor concrete fountain as both a stage and a bar during a party held on Feb. 19 at his Newport Coast estate. The fountain broke and hit the singer amid the party, causing him serious injuries.

Dam Vinh Hung contends that Williams did not carry out the inspection and maintenance of construction items as required, indirectly causing the incident. The singer asserts that the injury forced him to modify his schedule and cancel numerous performances in March, leading to financial losses. He is seeking monetary compensation for medical expenses and lost earnings, as well as for emotional suffering caused by the accident.

The court has processed this civil lawsuit and scheduled the first hearing for June 2025 in California.

Dam Vinh Hung, whose real name is Huynh Minh Hung, began his career by securing fourth place in the Ho Chi Minh City Television Singing Contest in 1998. His career took off thereafter, earning him two Dedication Music Awards, akin to Grammy Awards in Vietnamese music, in 2008 and 2010.

He has also been a judge on several prominent Vietnamese singing competitions, such as The Voice of Vietnam and The X Factor Vietnam.

Williams, a businessman with a background in technology, is known for his patronage of the arts and his marriage to Vietnamese singer Bich Tuyen. The couple frequently hosts gatherings that attract numerous overseas Vietnamese artists.