Paula Deen has alleged that Lisa Jackson, the former employee who filed a lawsuit against the Southern food mogul earlier this week, attempted to extort Deen to the tune of $1.25 million or face “ruin,” reports say.
According to TMZ, Deen’s lawyers have filed a response to Jackson’s lawsuit, and are seeking a gag order that would keep the former general manager of Deen-owned Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House from speaking to the press or talking openly about the lawsuit. Among the evidence included in Deen’s response is a letter reportedly sent to Deen by Jackson’s lawyer. The letter allegedly asked Deen to pay Jackson a $1.25 million settlement to avoid Jackson’s complaints becoming public knowledge.
PAULA DEEN ACCUSED IN LAWSUIT OF USING THE N-WORD
In the letter, Jackson’s lawyer reportedly writes, “If we are unable to settle, the complaint will not be quietly filed. I am making arrangements for a press conference on the day of filing.”
Jackson’s lawsuit alleges that both Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, used the n-word in front of employees. Jackson also claims that Hiers subjected her to sexual harassment by regularly viewing pornography in the small office that they shared. Jackson says that when she complained to management — presumably Deen — but no action was taken.
Jackson’s lawyers did not hold a press conference when filing the lawsuit on Monday. However, news of the lawsuit did trickle out through the website Radar Online. After Jackson’s lawsuit went public, Deen’s lawyers fired back with a statement.
“Ms. Jackson’s complaint makes false allegations against Paula Deen and they will be proven false in court,” the statement said. “We have filed our defensive pleadings with the court denying Ms. Jackson’s claims and those pleadings are a matter of public record. We will hold Ms. Jackson and her lawyer accountable for these false allegations. We look forward to our day in court and have nothing further to say.”