Curly Howard
11-11-2004, 12:57 PM
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The former bodyguard and chauffeur to Liza Minnelli (news) accuses the singer of forcing him to have sex with her and is seeking more than $100 million in damages, according to court papers unsealed on Wednesday.
According to a six-page complaint filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, M'hammed Soumayah said that "without his consent," he was forced to have sexual relations with Minnelli.
He said he finally succumbed to her advances after many repeated attempts and has evidence of a relationship. But he offered no details in his complaint.
A spokeswoman for Minnelli was not immediately available for comment on the latest charges to surface publicly in a civil suit that was filed against the entertainer last month by Soumayah who also claims he was beaten by Minnelli and subjected to her rages.
In an affidavit on Nov. 3 that was also unsealed on Wednesday, Minnelli said she will "vigorously" defend herself against his charges and says Soumayah has caused her "a great deal of personal distress and pain" by violating a confidentiality agreement he had signed.
Her affidavit did not address the allegations made by Soumayah about being forced to have sexual relations with her. Soumayah was hired by Minnelli in 1994 as her personal bodyguard and assistant and was paid an annual salary of $238,000.
Soumayah wants $50 million from Minnelli for her "intentional assault and battery," another $50 million for sexual harassment and $89,000 in back wages.
In his complaint, Soumayah said that throughout his employment, Minnelli "hit and assaulted" him "repeatedly" but fearing loss of his lucrative job, he tolerated Minnelli's "violent outbursts."
Earlier this week, Minnelli countersued and accused him of breach of contract.
Minnelli's estranged husband, David Gest, is also suing her for $10 million claiming the singer beat him during drunken rages. Minnelli has denied beating Gest and counter-sued, claiming he cheated her out of more than $2 million.
According to a six-page complaint filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, M'hammed Soumayah said that "without his consent," he was forced to have sexual relations with Minnelli.
He said he finally succumbed to her advances after many repeated attempts and has evidence of a relationship. But he offered no details in his complaint.
A spokeswoman for Minnelli was not immediately available for comment on the latest charges to surface publicly in a civil suit that was filed against the entertainer last month by Soumayah who also claims he was beaten by Minnelli and subjected to her rages.
In an affidavit on Nov. 3 that was also unsealed on Wednesday, Minnelli said she will "vigorously" defend herself against his charges and says Soumayah has caused her "a great deal of personal distress and pain" by violating a confidentiality agreement he had signed.
Her affidavit did not address the allegations made by Soumayah about being forced to have sexual relations with her. Soumayah was hired by Minnelli in 1994 as her personal bodyguard and assistant and was paid an annual salary of $238,000.
Soumayah wants $50 million from Minnelli for her "intentional assault and battery," another $50 million for sexual harassment and $89,000 in back wages.
In his complaint, Soumayah said that throughout his employment, Minnelli "hit and assaulted" him "repeatedly" but fearing loss of his lucrative job, he tolerated Minnelli's "violent outbursts."
Earlier this week, Minnelli countersued and accused him of breach of contract.
Minnelli's estranged husband, David Gest, is also suing her for $10 million claiming the singer beat him during drunken rages. Minnelli has denied beating Gest and counter-sued, claiming he cheated her out of more than $2 million.