Justin Bieber settles the suit that claimed he kicked a paparazzo

Los Angeles — Justin Bieber has settled a lawsuit by a photographer who accused the singer of kicking and punching him outside a Southern California shopping centre in 2012.

Photographer Jose Osmin Hernandez Duran sued Bieber in 2013, saying the incident left him with severe emotional distress.

Duran's attorney, Steven Madison, said on Wednesday that the case had been resolved but he couldn't comment further. A trial had been scheduled to start on Wednesday.

Bieber was accused of attacking Duran while he was out with singer Selena Gomez, who was his girlfriend at the time.

The lawsuit says Bieber started to leave a Calabasas shopping plaza but instead got out of his car, ran toward Duran and delivered a flying kick to his gut before punching him in the face.

Bieber's attorney, Howard Weitzman, declined to comment.