Filipina Nanny Says Harassed by Sharon Stone

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Sharon Stone's former live-in Filipina nanny claims in court that the actress subjected her to racist slurs, ridiculed her for going to church and prohibited her from reading the Bible.

Erlinda Elemen sued the "Basic Instinct" and "Casino" star in Superior Court, alleging harassment, failure to prevent harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.

Elemen also claims that Stone falsely accused her of stealing for earning overtime while traveling with the actress' three children.

Stone hired Elemen in the fall of 2006, and 2 years later promoted her to head nanny, according to the complaint. Elemen says she was fired without explanation in February 2011.

"From on or about August 2010 throughout the duration of her employment, plaintiff was repeatedly subjected to numerous derogatory comments and slurs by defendant Stone related to her Filipino ethnicity and heritage," according to the complaint. "These statements included, without limitation, comments about plaintiff's Filipino accent (i.e. plaintiff was instructed to refrain from speaking to the children because defendant did not want them to 'talk like you'), comments about Filipino food, and comments which equated being Filipino with being stupid. During that same period of time, defendant Stone was repeatedly verbally dismissive of plaintiff's deeply held religious beliefs, criticized plaintiff for frequently attending church and, on one occasion, forbade plaintiff from reading the Bible in plaintiff's room in defendant's residence."

When Stone learned that her staff were paying Elemen extra for holidays and travel, the actress accused her of stealing, asked for the money back, and stripped her of the overtime, the complaint states.

Elemen claims that when she complained, Stone assigned the extra hours to an assistant nanny and began to "berate plaintiff in front of her staff, guests and others."

Elemen is represented by Solomon Gresen with the Law Offices of Rheuban & Gresen of Encino.

She seeks punitive damages and up to $10,000 in civil penalties for each violation of the California Labor Code.

Stone's publicists at Rogers & Cowan called Elemen a "disgruntled ex-employee" who is "obviously looking to get money any way she can."

"After she was terminated approximately 1 1/2 years ago, she filed claims for alleged disability and workers compensation," the publicist said in an email to Courthouse News. "Now, she is obviously looking for another opportunity to cash in. This is a frivolous lawsuit for absurd claims that are made-up and fabricated. "

"Sharon Stone will be completely vindicated in court," Rogers & Cowan added. Stone's lawyers did not return a request for comment.

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