DAVID LACHAPELLE has been accused of attacking a gallery owner.The photographer is being sued for $1 million (£663,000), by James Parmenter, who claims to have been beaten and choked by LaChapelle last year.

Parmenter, who owns the Bigfork Collaborations gallery in Montana - and which has previously exhibited the photographer's work - filed a case at a Manhattan court earlier this week, reports The Independent.

"LaChapelle pushed and threw Parmenter around the apartment, including into the bed, exercise equipment and closet, and choked Parmenter nearly to the point of unconsciousness," details the lawsuit.The incident is alleged to have taken place at the New York apartment of Fred Torres, LaChapelle's former manager, in March 2012.

A representative on behalf of the photographer denied the claims.No further comment has been made by Parmenter or a Bigfork Collaborations gallery official.