Robert De Niro’s former employee, who accused the actor of gender discrimination and wage violations in a lawsuit, is seeking to have his $6million lawsuit against her dismissed from Manhattan federal court.
Graham Chase Robinson’s attorneys filed the motion on Monday, saying De Niro’s suit should be dismissed until a final judgement has been concluded on her claims.
Robinson’s attorneys argue that the allegations in De Niro’s lawsuit contain ‘false and prejudicial allegations,’ and was done to punish her for speaking out about his ‘illegal employment practices,’ according to documents obtained by DailyMail.com.
Additionally, Robinson hopes to strike specific allegations, including that Robinson used company time to watch 55 episodes of ‘Friends’ in four days and that she falsely reported her vacation days.
Graham Chase Robinson (left) has asked New York federal court to dismiss Robert De Niro’s (right) lawsuit against her until a final judgement has been concluded on her claims
Canal Productions, Inc., De Niro’s company, also accused Robinson of using the company American Express card to lash out tens of thousands of dollars on lavish trips, floral arrangements, iPhones, Uber rides, a Louis Vuitton handbag, dog sitters and pricey dinners.
‘These inflammatory accusations are scandalous and prejudicial – so much so that they “went viral”,’ documents say.
‘The assertion that Ms. Robinson took nearly half a year’s worth of vacation days on the sly is inherently implausible,’ they say, which Canal alleged was fraud.
Canal’s lawsuit requests that Robinson pay $6million – $3million for the lawsuit and $3million in damages – but Robinson’s attorney ask for this dropped as well.
They say the request is ‘clearly excessive and unattainable’
Canal Productions, Inc., De Niro’s company, also accused Robinson of using the company American Express card on various items, including Uber rides, a Louis Vuitton handbag and dog sitters
The attorney’s also maintain that the lawsuit brought against her was a preemptive strike and was an act of unlawful retaliation.
‘In the weeks and days before Canal filed this Complaint, Ms. Robinson informed her former employer, Canal, and its owner, Robert De Niro, through counsel, that she was contemplating bringing a lawsuit against them for…employment discrimination and wage-and-hour violations under federal, state, and New York City law,’ documents say.
‘In response, Canal retaliated and struck first by filing this preemptive lawsuit and naming Ms. Robinson as a defendant.’
Documents claim that De Niro (pictured) filed the lawsuit against Robinson to hider she ability to legally pursue her claims, destroy her reputation and eliminate future job prospects
Robinson’s attorneys say that De Niro’s lawsuit was designed to hider she ability to legally pursue her claims, destroy her reputation and eliminate future job prospects.
Robinson filed her lawsuit in October, claiming that De Niro overworked her, underpaid her throughout her stay at the company and directed ‘vulgar, inappropriate and gendered comments,’ her way.
Documents say that Robinson was treated as an ‘office wife’ who was subjected to sexually-charged comments and verbal abuse.
De Niro allegedly called Robinson a b****, brat and referred to a female business partner as a c*** in the presence of Robinson.
‘De Niro would unleash tirades against Ms. Robinson – often while he was intoxicated– in which he denigrated, berated, bullied, and hurled expletives at her,’ the documents say.
Among other complaints, Robinson claims De Niro would direct her to scratch his back, button his shirts, tie his ties, fix his collard and wake him when he was in bed.
‘De Niro routinely assigned Ms. Robinson job duties that were stereotypically female…De Niro directed Ms. Robinson to put away his boxers, hang up his clothes, wash his sheets, vacuum his apartment, set his table, mend his clothing, and select gifts for his children,’ documents say.
‘De Niro insisted on having a female take care of him and responded angrily when Ms. Robinson objected to performing these stereotypically female duties.’
Robinson began working for De Niro as an executive assistant when she was 25-year-old in 2008.
She reportedly hoped to build a career in the entertainment industry, but resigned from her role of vice president of production and finance in 2019.
‘She eventually quit because she could no longer endure the hostile work environment,’ the document say.
Previously, leaked audio revealed De Niro verbally lashing out at Robinson and calling her a ‘spoiled brat’ in a voicemail after she did not pick up the phone.
De Niro has not publicly responded to Robinson’s allegations.