Robert De Niro's Firm Files $6mn Suit against Ex-Employee for Binge-Watching 'Friends' at Workplace
Robert De Niro's company has filed a $6 million lawsuit against a former employee, who spent "astronomical amounts of time" watching Netflix during work hours. Canal Productions, De Niro's loan-out company, also accuses Chase Robinson of racking up exorbitant hotel and restaurant charges.
Hollywood icon Robert De Niro's company has filed a $6 million lawsuit against a former employee, who spent "astronomical amounts of time" watching Netflix during work hours. Canal Productions, De Niro's loan-out company, also accuses Chase Robinson of racking up exorbitant hotel and restaurant charges and using millions of De Niro's frequent flyer miles for her personal trips, reports "variety.com". Robert De Niro Greatest Actor on Earth, Says Anupam Kher
According to the suit, filed on Saturday in state court in New York, Robinson was hired as an assistant to De Niro in 2008. She was later promoted to "vice president of production and finance" at the loan-out company, and her 2019 salary was $300,000. She left the company in April, amid growing concerns about alleged "corporate sabotage", the suit states. The Irishman Teaser: Al Pacino and Robert De Niro Reunite For Martin Scorsese’s Intriguing Crime Drama and We Can’t Keep Our Calm – Watch Video
The company alleges that during a four-day period in January, she watched 55 episodes of "Friends". On one of those days, she ordered lunch from Caviar San Francisco and had dinner at Paola's Restaurant, charging both meals on the company card. Over another four-day period in March, she allegedly watched 20 episodes of "Arrested Development" and 10 episodes of "Schitt's Creek".
"Watching shows on Netflix was not in any way part of or related to the duties and responsibilities of Robinson's employment and, on information and belief, was done for her personal entertainment, amusement and pleasure at times when she was being paid to work," the suit alleges.
The suit alleges that Robinson made $12,696.65 in unauthorised charges at Paola's over a two-year period, in addition to $8,923.20 at Dean and Deluca and Whole Foods, and $32,000 for Ubers and taxis. In her resignation email in April, Robinson allegedly brushed off concerns about her spending and other issues as "ridiculous". She later drafted a recommendation letter for herself, which De Niro refused to sign, the suit states.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2019 04:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).