http://www.philly.com/dailynews/feat...s_lawsuit.html
Maria says in court papers that Vanessa "badgered, harassed and humiliated" her in front of Kobe, the couple's children and others. She said that the couple failed to provide health coverage, as promised when she was hired. She said that she didn't learn that she didn't have it until she became ill and sought medical attention.
The action seeks unspecified general, punitive and special damages, as well as back pay and overtime that Maria says she is owed.
Maria wasn't fired, but her lawyer said she was wrongly discharged because Kobe's wife made it impossible for her to continue working at the couple's Orange County home.
"She quit, but because the working conditions were intolerable," attorney William Vogeler said yesterday. "We allege it was a violation of labor laws that protect people from working in unhealthy situations."
In court papers, Jimenez says that she went to work for the Bryants in September 2007 and left in March 2008. Almost immediately upon starting work, "Vanessa began a continuing pattern of verbally abusing and demeaning her." Jimenez said she was called lazy, slow, dumb, a liar and was cursed and screamed at.
Vanessa sounds like a coach who prefers stick to carrot.
After Jimenez told Kobe that she wanted to quit, he talked her out of it and elicited an apology from his wife, court papers said. But then, Jimenez said, the abuse began again.
According to the papers, Vanessa screamed at Jimenez for putting an expensive blouse in the Bryants' washing machine. "Then Vanessa demanded that she put her hand in a bag of dog feces to retrieve the price tag for the blouse."
Although she gave notice, Jimenez said, Vanessa demanded - and Jimenez says she complied - that she work until her next pay day to cover the $690 cost of the blouse. In Kobe terms, $690 is called meal money
Maria says in court papers that Vanessa "badgered, harassed and humiliated" her in front of Kobe, the couple's children and others. She said that the couple failed to provide health coverage, as promised when she was hired. She said that she didn't learn that she didn't have it until she became ill and sought medical attention.
The action seeks unspecified general, punitive and special damages, as well as back pay and overtime that Maria says she is owed.
Maria wasn't fired, but her lawyer said she was wrongly discharged because Kobe's wife made it impossible for her to continue working at the couple's Orange County home.
"She quit, but because the working conditions were intolerable," attorney William Vogeler said yesterday. "We allege it was a violation of labor laws that protect people from working in unhealthy situations."
In court papers, Jimenez says that she went to work for the Bryants in September 2007 and left in March 2008. Almost immediately upon starting work, "Vanessa began a continuing pattern of verbally abusing and demeaning her." Jimenez said she was called lazy, slow, dumb, a liar and was cursed and screamed at.
Vanessa sounds like a coach who prefers stick to carrot.
After Jimenez told Kobe that she wanted to quit, he talked her out of it and elicited an apology from his wife, court papers said. But then, Jimenez said, the abuse began again.
According to the papers, Vanessa screamed at Jimenez for putting an expensive blouse in the Bryants' washing machine. "Then Vanessa demanded that she put her hand in a bag of dog feces to retrieve the price tag for the blouse."
Although she gave notice, Jimenez said, Vanessa demanded - and Jimenez says she complied - that she work until her next pay day to cover the $690 cost of the blouse. In Kobe terms, $690 is called meal money
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