Liza's ex in sex claim
2006-06-17 19:43
Memphis - David Gest, the former husband of Liza Minnelli, has been sued by a former employee who claims he was sexually harassed.
Charles R Beyer claims in a federal court lawsuit that he was harassed and humiliated by Gest last July, while working as his personal assistant.
"David A Gest made sexual comments, touched plaintiff in a sexual nature, wrote sexual comments in plaintiff's calendar, and paid another employee to touch plaintiff," wrote Beyer, 35, in a complaint he filed himself.
Gest's attorney, Edward Bearman, said his client had tried to do Beyer a favour by giving him a temporary job - that lasted only nine weeks.
"The guy just wouldn't go away," said Bearman on Wednesday.
"I think this is just a bogus attempt to get some money out of a celebrity and I'm not even sure he qualifies as an employee."
The United States' equal employment opportunity commission has investigated the matter, but did not substantiate Beyer's claims.
Minnelli and Gest married on March 16, 2002, at a celebrity-studded ceremony with Michael Jackson as best man and Elizabeth Taylor as maid of honour.
They separated in July 2003, and filed for divorce later that year.
- AP