American businessman and singer’s wife refuse negotiations in lawsuit by Vietnamese ‘bolero king’ over party damage

Singer Dam Vinh Hung, nicknamed the “King of Bolero” in Vietnam. Photo from Dam Vinh Hung’s Facebook

The California Superior Court revealed on October 31 that Dam Vinh Hung, 53, has sued Williams over an incident at a party hosted at Williams’ home and demanding damages.

Bich Tuyen revealed to them Thanh Nien newspaper that the event, organized by businesswoman Mong Linh on February 12 to celebrate Tet Lunar New Year, which was attended by various overseas Vietnamese celebrities, including Dam Vinh Hung.

In an interview with Ngoi Sao On Wednesday, Bich Tuyen noted that her family had received the trial documents from Dam Vinh Hung’s lawyer a few weeks earlier.

“We were surprised and disappointed,” she said. “Gerard was heartbroken to be sued by a friend he values ​​deeply.”

She also noted that Dam Vinh Hung’s compensation claims were neither fair nor reasonable, prompting her and her husband to refuse any negotiations and instead wait for the court date .

In addition, Bich Tuyen noted discrepancies in the details of the lawsuit, which she claimed did not accurately reflect the true nature of the incident, as she and her husband discovered in consultation with their legal team.

“Although I wanted to call Dam Vinh Hung directly, I realized that this is not the right time,” she commented. “All communications between the parties must now go through our lawyers and under the authority’s supervision.”

She recounted that she and Williams immediately took Dam Vinh Hung to the emergency room on the evening of the incident and subsequently visited him regularly at the hospital and at his residence in the U.S. Even after his recovery and return in Vietnam for a concert in May, which Williams attended, their relationship remained cordial.

“We had a good relationship before this trial,” she said. “Whenever Dam Vinh Hung visited the US, he would shop and chat with Williams about a variety of topics, including music.”

She also mentioned that Dam Vinh Hung was a regular at their gatherings and the trial created discomfort among them.

Court documents state Dam Vinh Hung claims the incident occurred when Williams used an outdoor concrete fountain as both a stage and a bar during the party at his Newport Coast property. The fountain collapsed and hit the singer, causing serious injuries.

Dam Vinh Hung alleges Williams failed to perform necessary inspections and maintenance on the property, indirectly leading to the accident. The singer claims his injuries forced him to alter his plans and cancel several shows in March, resulting in substantial financial losses. Thus, he is seeking compensation for medical costs, lost earnings and emotional distress.

The civil suit was accepted by the court, which scheduled the initial hearing for June 2025 in California.

Dam Vinh Hung, whose birth name is Huynh Minh Hung, launched his career with a fourth-place finish at the Ho Chi Minh City Television Singing Contest in 1998 and later received two Dedication Music Awards in 2008 and 2010 – Vietnam’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards.

He has been a judge on several Vietnamese shows such as The Voice of Vietnam and The X Factor Vietnam.

Williams, a businessman with a tech background, is recognized for his support of the arts and his marriage to Bich Tuyen, with whom he often hosts events that attract various Vietnamese artists from overseas.