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Dov Charney's Lawyer Calls Sexual Harassment Claims "An Orchestrated Shakedown"
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 26, 2011
Modified Mar 26, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 26, 2011
Modified Mar 26, 2011
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American Apparel founder Dov Charney is continuing to fight back against the sexual harassment accusations from former employees. Citing sexually explicit emails and photographs allegedly sent by the accusers, Charney's lawyer Stuart Slotnick says, "This is an orchestrated shakedown by a group of former employees that are friends and roommates, and who, not incidentally, happen to have the same lawyer."
Yesterday, emails and photographs allegedly sent from Irene Morales, the first ex-employee who sued Charney for $260 million (claiming she was kept as a sex slave), were revealed (Gawker has some of them), with some saying, "Daddy's got a little naughty girl waiting for him," and another offering to "be your little slave." Slotnick says that Morales had been "stalking Mr. Charney and acted inappropriately by offering him sex acts in exchange for material possessions and money."
The second plaintiff, Kimbra Lo, claims that Charney lured her to his home last December for an interview, which took place on his bed, and that Charney eventually forced her to perform sexual acts on him. (Lo had worked for American Apparel in a New York store and says Charney was interviewing her to be a photographer or model.) But Charney's lawyer says she was a willing participant, and the Post details some photographs and other correspondence: "Kimbra Lo, 19, is seen in some shots splayed on the bed with her eyes closed and head tossed back... Lo also sent a series of flirty e-mails and texts to Charney in the weeks following the steamy interview, including confessions that Lolita was her favorite flick. A few hours later, Lo and Charney had two phone conversations lasting a total of almost two hours, according to records provided to The Post."
Lawyer Eric Baum, who is representing both Morales and Lo, told the News that he couldn't verify the photographs or emails, but said, "It is not unusual for victims of sexual harassment or assault to grow so demoralized that they feel the only value they offer is as a sexual object. That in no way means they deserved to be harassed and assaulted."
Yesterday, Brooklyn Supreme Court justice did not dismiss Morales' lawsuit and delayed her final ruling, but did suggest that the two sides go to arbitration since Morales had a signed releases with the company before leaving (another of Charney's lawyers told us that she "acknowledged in writing that she had no pending claims against the company and signed a severance agreement which included a full release of claims and an agreement to submit any future claims to confidential binding arbitration").
Tagged
american apparel
dov charney
interview
Irene Morales
Kimbra Lo
lawsuit
sex slave
sexual harassment
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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