‘Price is Right’ Model Sues|for Sexual Harassment

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A former model on "The Price is Right" claims the sexual harassment she suffered from two producers culminated with her collapsing on the set after one man gave her the silent treatment and the other berated her while she stood nearly naked, cornered in a dressing room.

Lanisha Cole sued "Price is Right" producers Michael Richards and Adam Sandler and production company Fremantle Media North America, in Superior Court.

Richards and Sandler are not the actors of the same names.

Cole alleges sexual harassment, false imprisonment, retaliation, wrongful constructive firing, and other claims.

The 29-year-old says the trouble began in December 2009, six years after her debut on the long-running show, when Richards refused to talk to her "about anything ... under any circumstance."

She claims Richards offered her only limited direction through messages passed through other models.

Cole says she became "alarmed" when she found out Richards was dating Amber Lancaster, another model on the show, and says he openly favored the co-worker.

In September 2010, Cole says, Sandler stormed into her dressing room and yelled at her as she stood nearly naked, clad only in a sheer thong, after she failed to wear a microphone during a show.

"Sandler continued to verbally berate Plaintiff, while his eyes were free to look at her exposed breasts and entire body," the complaint states.

Cole says she was "frozen with shock and humiliation" during the outburst.

On Oct. 25, 2010, Cole says, she "suffered an extreme physical reaction during the TPIR show that day, and collapsed on the set" just before a meeting with Richards and a human resources representative. She claims that at the meeting Richards apologized to her, but "no mention was made of the favoritism being shown Ms. Lancaster ... nor was any discussion held concerning defendant Sandler's behavior."

In December 2010, Cole said she asked to take one day off to visit family in New York, Freemantle told her that models were not allowed to break up their work schedule under company policy.

Cole claims "there was no such policy in existence at the time" and that Fremantle Media eventually "admitted that no such policy existed."

She claims that Lancaster showed up late for work and missed days, too, but suffered no consequences, due to her relationship with Richards.

After she returned from New York, Cole says, Fremantle Media held a meeting during which it accused her of "'holding the show hostage' over the hostile working environment about which she had complained."

Cole says she suffered another "severe physical reaction to the stress and anxiety," which prompted her to quit that day.

She seeks damages for medical expenses, lost job opportunities, and "extreme and severe physical and mental anguish and emotional distress."

She is represented by Solomon Gresen with the Rheuban & Gresen, of Encino.

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