London, Dec 22 - A journalist has sued Tom Cruise over allegations that the actor hired private detective Anthony Pellicano to tap his phone. The journalist is now demanding $5 million in damages.

According to documents filed at Los Angeles' County Superior Court, Michael Davis Sapir claims that Pellicano bugged his phone on the orders of Cruise, reported imdb.com.

It is not the first time Sapir and Cruise have come up against each other in court. In 2001, the superstar sued Sapir after he alleged to have video evidence that the actor was in a gay relationship.

They settled out of court the same year and both stated that the tape never existed.