Paula Deen Lawsuit 'Baseless,' Say Lawyers
Lawyers for celebrity chef Paula Deen have come out and addressed the lawsuit against Deen claiming that the allegations are false and was filed in an attempt to collect money. The restaurant where Jackson worked is co-owned by Deen and her brother Bubba Hiers.
According to the lawsuit, which was filed by Lisa Jackson on Monday, during the five years Jackson worked there, Hiers made continual inappropriate sexual comments to her and other staff members. Hiers also allegedly downloaded pornography on a work computer that was shared with Jackson.
Jackson claimed in the suit that her doctor recommended that she quit her job as general manager at Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House because she was experiencing panic attacks and other stress.
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The majority of the 33-page complaint reveals what the plaintiff claims to be rude and inappropriate behavior. There were also detailed incidents of blatant racist remarks by Hiers and Deen.
The suit also included incidents that Hiers physically intimidated employees and acted toward Jackson in a sexually degrading manner, by forcibly kissing her cheek and spitting on her.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
The lawsuit, "makes false allegations against Paula Deen and they will be proven false in court," according to a statement from the Oliver Maner law firm, who is representing Deen.
Deen's Lawyers claim that the lawsuit was filed after the queen of Southern cooking refused to pay the Jackson to "address false claims."
Deen's law firm explained that they reviewed Jackson's claims, but were unable to resolve or address the situation with her.
"She has made baseless, inflammatory allegations, threatening to go to the press and ruin Paula Deen's reputation and the reputation of her businesses unless we paid her a large sum of money," the firm's statement said.
"We refused to bow to that kind of pressure and refused to pay money to address false claims," the attorneys added.
