Michaels Richards : Did Michael Have Another Meltdown ???

     According to a new report from TMZ , Michael Richards is in hot water again for flying off the handle . In recent years , the 61-year-old 'Seinfeld' star has been keeping a 

very low profile , ever since  hurling the N- word at hecklers  during a profanity-laced tirade  that was infamously caught on tape in 2006.
    Now, in a new lawsuit , photographer Brendon O'Neal reportedly claims that the angry actor  flat-out beat him up , during an August 25 assault that sounds downright brutal.

    The incident allegedly took place on a street in Los Angeles. Richards is accused of walking up to O'Neal  in a "menacing manner ... with closed fists," and than punching the photographer  in the face, knocking him to the pavement , where he "proceeded to kick [O'Neal] numerous  times , directing the blows to [O'neal's] arms, hands and camera."

    No word yet on what triggered the alleged assault. Meanwhile , Richards' reps have not issured a response about the lawsuit.

    The actor , beloved for years as 'Seinfeld' misfit Cosmo Kramer  , was reportedly devasteted  when amateur  video of his 2006 outburst ( from the stage of L.A.'s Laugh Factory during a  stand-up gig ) severly tarnished his jovial public image. He tried apologizing publicly, and deined he was a racist , although Rev. Jesse Jackson condemned  the rant as "hate speech," and many declared  Richards career  permanently damaged. Indeed , the actor  has rarely resurfaced - although  he guest-starred  as himself on a 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' episode in 2009, featuring a controversial  scene where Richards blows his top ("If only there were a horrible name that I could call you that would make you as anhry as I am !") while bystanders used phones to capture the "meltdown."  So far , no video evidence of the attack on O'Neal has materialized.

    In a nutshell :  Do you think this is a growing trend that  actors/actresses have come up with to get  some PR when their careers are flagging ?  It seems to be  catching on with  most of them , trying to stay one up....well we'll see who's next in line.