Russell Crowe Settles With Hotel Clerk

A statement released by both parties said the Oscar-winning actor and the Mercer Hotel employee, Nestor Estrada, had settled the case but offered few details. "Both sides expressed satisfaction at the resolution," the joint statement said.

Local tabloids said Crowe paid about $100,000 to settle the civil lawsuit. Crowe still faces criminal charges of assault and faces up to 7 years in jail if convicted. The incident took place shortly after 4 a.m. on June 6 when Crowe returned to the trendy SoHo hotel and became irritated when Estrada was unable to put through a call to Crowe's wife in Australia. Upset, Crowe pulled the telephone out of the wall, went to the lobby where he argued with Estrada and threw the phone at him.