Nicole Kidman kicks off 2015 with a lawsuit

Los Angeles - Nicole Kidman is being sued by her neighbour.

The resident of the flat below the Paddington star's penthouse in Manhattan, New York has alleged that his flat has suffered water damage as a result of pipes bursting on the 47-year-old actress' terrace.

The flood - which happened on January 5 2012 - caused over $46 000 worth of damage to real estate broker Leonard Steinberg's flat, the papers submitted to the Manhattan Supreme Court allege.

Steinberg's insurer - Nationwide - are believed to be suing Nicole in order to recoup the $46 000 plus other costs, according to a report in the New York Post's Page Six column.

The papers state that Nicole had copper piping installed on her balconies but allege that the construction company failed to insulate them probably and the water was not emptied before the winter.

The suit explains that the pipes had frozen and then exploded, leaving the water damage in the apartment below.

With a lawsuit on her hands, 2015 doesn't appear to be getting off to a good start, which is not what the Moulin Rouge! star would have been hoping after her "really hard" 2014.

Nicole lost her father, Dr Antony Kidman, suddenly in August and has admitted that the "massive tragedy" had a big effect on her.

She said previously: "Personally it's been really really really hard. My family underwent a massive tragedy. So not my favourite year.

"But I try not to be ungrateful - I'm grateful to be alive."