Celebrity photographer David LaChapelle has been sued for $1 million by a Montana gallery director who claims he beat and choked him.

According to the lawsuit, the Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone photographer attacked James Parmenter at a Manhattan apartment in March 2012.

The suit was filed Wednesday in Manhattan Supreme Court.

It says Parmenter was chocked "to the point of unconsciousness."

The New York Post (http://bit.ly/W78sfU ) reports that LaChapelle's representative denied the allegations.

Paramenter has exhibited LaChapelle's works at his Bigfork Collaborations gallery where his prints go for more than $100,000 each.

LaChapelle has taken portraits of Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna and other celebrities.

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Information from: New York Post, http://www.nypost.com