Robert De Niro's Legal Battle with Former Employee Goes to Trial

Robert De Niro and his former employee, Graham Chase Robinson, have finally begun trial proceedings in federal court in Manhattan this week on a four-year legal dispute. The case has brought to light allegations of gender discrimination and improper spending by both parties.

Graham Chase Robinson's Claims

Robinson, who initially started as De Niro's executive assistant in 2008 and later held the position of vice president at Canal Productions, filed a lawsuit against the acclaimed actor De Niro and his company for gender discrimination.

In her lawsuit, Robinson contended that De Niro had subjected her to demeaning and gender-based treatment, referring to her as an "office wife." She claimed that he assigned her tasks such as washing his sheets and scratching his back that were inconsistent with her job descriptions. Additionally, she alleged that she was paid less than a male colleague who performed tasks of similar skill and responsibility.

The lawsuit also detailed instances where De Niro reportedly made derogatory gender-based comments, including calling Robinson a "bitch" and a "brat." The jury will evaluate the validity of Robinson's claims under New York City’s Human Rights Law, which covers gender discrimination and retaliation.

Robinson's retaliation claim revolves around a dispute between her and Tiffany Chen, De Niro's current girlfriend. Both Robinson and Chen worked on preparing a townhouse for the couple to move into. Robinson's lawyer, Brent Hannafan, argued that Chen expressed concerns that Robinson had romantic interests in De Niro, leading to tensions between the two women. After Robinson raised the issue with De Niro, Chen allegedly stripped her of her job duties, causing Robinson to resign.

Robert De Niro's and Canal Productions' Defense

De Niro and Canal Productions have presented a different perspective on Robinson's role and her allegations. They contend that despite Robinson's request for the title of vice president in 2017, her duties, which included coordinating De Niro's personal and professional life, remained unchanged. Furthermore, they argued that the male colleague she compared herself to had worked for De Niro significantly longer.

De Niro's defense described him as a kind and generous boss, characterizing Robinson as someone who "took advantage" of her proximity to fame and money. They claimed that she charged exorbitant personal expenses and expensed a trip to Los Angeles under false pretenses, asserting that none of this was due to her gender.

Canal Productions filed several claims against Robinson, including breach of fiduciary duty, breach of the duty of loyalty, and conversion, concerning a dispute over airline miles.

A Battle of Words Inside the Court

On the witness stand, De Niro maintained that Robinson's job did not require her to be "on call" at all hours and described her duties, which included scheduling, travel arrangements, and gift purchases for loved ones.

During the trial, De Niro's exchange with Robinson's lawyer grew heated as he vehemently denied her allegations of inappropriate behavior, including urinating on phone calls and requesting back scratches. He acknowledged that he might have used words like "spoiled brat" and "bitch" but insisted that he was never abusive.

The trial continues to unfold as the jury considers the competing claims of gender discrimination and improper spending put forth by both parties.

FAQs

Who is Tiffany Chen Robert De Niro?
Chen is a martial arts instructor who sometimes works as an actress. She first met De Niro on the set of the 2015 movie "The Intern", in a scene in which De Niro's character practices tai chi.

What is Robert De Niro Accused and in the Courts For?
Robert De Niro took the stand on the first day of a civil trial against a former employee who sued the actor over claims of gender discrimination. Graham Chase Robinson says the star underpaid her, made sexist comments and assigned her "stereotypically female" tasks while she worked as an executive.