Paula Deen and Brother Sued for Sexual Harassment by Restaurant Employee

Former manager at Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House alleges she was subjected to a series of indecent incidents over a period of five years

By Brandi Fowler Mar 06, 2012 1:45 AMTags
Paula DeenJohn M. Heller/Getty Images

It appears Anthony Bourdain isn't the only one that has a bit of beef with Paula Deen.

The Food Network star and her restaurant co-owner brother, Bubba Hiers, were the subject of a lawsuit Monday by a former restaurant employee who alleges she was the victim of sexual harassment, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

So what went down? 

According to Lisa Jackson, a former general manager at the duo's Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House in Savannah, she was subjected to a series of indecent incidents over a period of five years while she worked there.  

She quit in August 2010, alleging that she left under the advisement of her physician because of panic attacks and other stress-related health conditions she suffered while working at the Southern establishment. 

The lawsuit alleges that Hiers repeatedly made sexually inappropriate comments to Jackson, that he distributed inapropriate pictures at work to employees and that he watched pornography in the office Jackson shared with him, among other things.

Deen's camp has not responded to E! News for comment.

MORE: Food Fight, Round 2! Paula Deen Tells Anthony Bourdain, "Get a Life!"

And Jackson, who was purportedly given six months to turn the supposed "failing" restaurant around when she was promoted to the position back in 2005, said Deen's behavior was no better, claiming she told her, "Now I'm going to do something I've never done. I'm going to put a woman in a man's job," when she first took the gig. 

But that's not all.

Jackson, who is white, is also accusing Deen and her brother of racism in the suit, saying they both made racist comments about the restaurant's African-American employees and required them to use a restroom in the back of the restaurant.

Jackson is seeking unspecified damages in the case.