AP Photo/Kim D. JohnsonThe damning countersuit filed by a second former nanny of Rob Lowe accusing the actor's wife, Sheryl, of sexual harassment has been released. If you thought the claws were out before...
Among other allegations, Laura Boyce, who worked for the Lowes for roughly seven months during 2007, claims the missus created an "extremely sexually offensive and hostile work environment...behaving in a...perverted, disgusting and crude manner." (View the complaint.)
"The rich and famous are not above the law," the lawsuit reads. "They are not granted any special immunities. The rich and famous, just like any other individual and any other employer, must not subject their employees to a sexually hostile and offensive work environment."
In a statement to E! News, Sheryl Lowe slammed Boyce's allegations as "sickening and disgusting."
Among other workplace-inappropriate actions, Boyce claims Sheryl walked around the homestead "naked, completely exposing herself" to the unwitting nanny. Sheryl not only made a habit of discussing her sex life with her actor husband, per the suit, but also queried Boyce about her relationship with her ex-NBA boyfriend, including making inappropriate comments and gestures theorizing on the size of the unidentified beau's manhood.
In one instance, Boyce claims, Sheryl said, "You're so little and he is so big. Does it hurt?"
"Sheryl Lowe behaved herself in a sexually perverted, disgusting and crude manner," the lawsuit states, adding that she "made numerous sexually crude, lascivious and racially derogatory comments" to Boyce.
The final straw, she claimed, was an incident that took place Nov. 16, when Boyce phoned the home and told the couple's manager she was sick and would not make it into work that day.
Per the lawsuit, Boyce claims to have heard Sheryl in the background of the phone call laughing and yelling, "She got strep throat from sucking n---er d--k. I mean black d--k."
In addition to the harassment claims, Boyce is also suing the 46-year-old makeup artist and her 44-year-old husband for wrongful constructive termination, unpaid wages and various other labor code violations, including unpaid meal and rest periods and off-the-clock work.
Boyce said in the suit that her contract stipulated she be paid $16 per hour for her Thursday through Monday workweek and said a typical day lasted from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
While no specific sexual-harassment claims were lobbed against the former West Winger in the lawsuit, in a press conference held in Los Angeles today, Boyce attorney Gloria Allred clarified his inclusion in the filing.
"We are suing Mr. Lowe in Ms. Boyce's lawsuit because he is an employer with Mrs. Lowe and therefore legally jointly responsible for any harassment in his workplace," she said.
The Lowes themselves preemptively filed a lawsuit against Boyce and two other former employees last month, alleging they were the victims of a seven-figure extortion plan orchestrated by fellow former nanny, and fellow countersuit filer, Jessica Gibson.
Allred today addressed the claim, saying the Lowes' lawsuit was "intended for one purpose and one purpose only, and that was to intimidate" their former employees.
Boyce herself, who reportedly served as the nanny for Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler on their ill-fated MTV reality show Meet the Barkers, briefly made a statement, or at least as much of a statement as she could before collapsing into a fit of tears.
The always-composed Allred took over, reading out the statement on her client's behalf.
"I was devastated when I found out the Lowes had sued me...I feel betrayed and hurt and extremely upset that they would sue me after I endured what I did in their household. I believe the truth should come out and it will."
It's a promise both sides have made.
Sheryl Lowe's statement, released just prior to the press conference, blasted Boyce's allegations.
Addressing Boyce's claim that she at one point discussed the sizes of her son's genitals, Low said she couldn't believe Allred and Boyce "would stoop so low as to drag a child into this latest, baseless, predatory lawsuit.
"To falsely attack my husband is one thing, to attack me is another, but to do this to our son reveals not only their lack of character, but how far they are willing to go to play the 'lawsuit lotto.' "
In her statement, Lowe also called Boyce's lawsuit a betrayal, mentioning that she was physically abused by an ex-boyfriend and that it was Lowe herself who took the nanny to the emergency room.
When asked if she believed she was betraying the couple, Boyce attempted to spit out a negative response when Allred leaned over and covered her mouth to prevent her from answering any questions. She eased up long enough, however, to allow Boyce to tearfully say how much she loved the Lowes' children.
The Lowes are due to be deposed by Allred in Santa Barbara May 19 and 20 in connection with Gibson's suit. A deposition date for the new filing has yet to be set.
—Additional reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum