Music star Justin Bieber has been ordered to travel to Miami in March for a mediation hearing as ordered by a judge overseeing a lawsuit filed against the singer by paparazzo photographers. Bieber had requested that the hearing be conducted via video link because of the burdensome cost of traveling to Miami (estimated by Bieber to be around $70,000) and the impact of his busy performance and appearance schedule, but the judge denied these requests.

The lawsuit was filed by a photographer who claimed Bieber ordered his bodyguards to beat him up for taking photos of the singer outside a Miami recording studio. Bieber has denied the allegation.

In addition to complaining about the cost of the journey, Bieber’s attorneys also claimed that he would have to postpone recording his next album, which they classified as missed work. Under Canadian law you cannot be compelled to miss work. However, the judge in the case ruled that Bieber must follow U.S. rules for the lawsuit which have no such protections, and that a postponed studio session was not the same as lost wages or the threat of losing a job.

In response to the claim of cost, the photographer’s lawyer advised the judge that he could find a first-class ticket to Miami for the singer that cost just $1,000. The judge agreed with the photographer’s attorneys and Bieber must appear in Miami for the mediation hearing or be held in contempt of court.

The court date set by the judge is March 11, unless a settlement is worked out between the two sides before then.