The Irish Top Gear producer, Oisín Tymon, who was assaulted by Jeremy Clarkson is suing him and the BBC for racial discrimination and personal injury.
Lawyers acting on behalf of Tymon launched a claim for injuries on both counts at a London employment tribunal this morning.
Legal teams for Clarkson and the BBC were also present at the preliminary in-camera hearing.
According to The Telegraph newspaper, the producer, who suffered a split lip in the incident in March, is understood to be seeking damages in excess of £100,000 (€142,000).
A spokesman for the BBC said: “We will be responding to this claim but will not be commenting further at this time.”
The incident between Clarkson and Tymon cost the presenter his job on the motoring show.
Clarkson along with co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond subsequently signed a deal for a new show with Amazon's streaming service worth a reputed €220m over 36 episodes.
Clarkson, May and Hammond have signed a deal with Amazon Prime
A BBC investigation following the incident found that Clarkson had subjected the 36-year-old producer to a 30-second physical attack after a sustained verbal tirade.
At the time of the attack Tymon told police he did not wish to press charges. It is understood that he has been off work, on full pay, since the incident.
