p2pnet - rss feed: Maid sues Sony Pictures exec
p2pnet.net News- James Jackson, vp of legal affairs for Sony Pictures Entertainment, filed for bankruptcy protection just days before a lawsuit accusing him and his wife of involuntary servitude, false imprisonment, invasion of privacy, negligence and fraud, started.
In a lawsuit filed last year Nena Ruiz, 60, a former school-teacher from the Philipines, claimed the Jacksons took her passport and paid her $300 for a year’s work at their Culver City condominium, says an Associated Press story here, continuing:
"Ruiz said she often worked 18 hours a day and was forced to do strange household chores such as heating chicken nuggets and cutting up bananas or pears for the couple’s two dogs while she was fed leftovers and slept in a dog bed. Ruiz also alleged that Elizabeth Jackson repeatedly slapped her and pulled her hair."
The Jacksons, ordered to pay $825,000, deny the charges and may appeal, says AP, adding that according to lawyer John Daniels, his client has suspended by Sony and, "it is my understanding that he will be terminated".
"Slavery still exists," Ruiz said at a news conference.
September 6th, 2004 at 11:13 pm
Would this story have been used if Jackson was not a Sony employee? I think not.
September 7th, 2004 at 12:08 am
It’s just a classic example of those who are so concerned with ensuring artists get their fair pay, being totally unconcerned with the welfare of those from whom they can’t make any money. Classic I say.
September 8th, 2004 at 7:14 pm
What’s your point? This is a digital media news site, right?
September 8th, 2004 at 7:18 pm
“James Jackson, vp of legal affairs for Sony Pictures Entertainment”
VP of legal affairs… Hmmm… Guess you can’t damn a whole corporation based on one person’s conduct, but taking into account this guy’s job, it sure is tempting.
September 18th, 2004 at 12:57 am
The flip side of the coin…..this woman is brought over from the Philippines, is given an EASY job cleaning a condo and cooking a few meals for a wonderful couple. Well, the GREAT GUY and his LOVELY WIFE decide they don’t need her, as she’s really not doing much for the money they’re REALLY paying her (it’s just them and their two dogs afterall), and tell her they want her to go back to the Philippines. Well….she doesn’t want to…..and cooks up the plan with the help of her nearby friend to FRAME the nice people. She said she’d wanted to go home, but the couple wouldn’t LET her, held her “in slavery”. She had to do such terrible things, like “heat up chicken nuggets”. Oh…the horror of it all. They’d been paying her in cash….so they had no proof of the money they’d REALLY been paying her. She cries on the stand, and the jury of FOOLS awarded her close to a million. So….is she going back to the Philippines like “she wanted to”? Or is she bringing over her entire family to live on her newfound wealth, thanks to the ignorance of the U.S. Legal System? What do YOU think? Are the problems over for the nice couple who did nothing wrong (except pay her in cash)? NOooooo…..they’re being investigated now for possible civil rights violations. Yeah, right. Wise up, people.