Paula Deen’s Brother’s Lawsuit Moved To Federal Court

The family that cooks together, gets sued together. But if your sister is Paula Deen and you own one of her restaurants, and you’re also being sued for sexual and racial harassment, you can afford a really good lawyer who can get the case moved to federal court.

Deen’s brother, Earl W. “Bubba” Hiers, operates the Uncle Bubba Seafood and Oyster House on Whitemarsh Island, GA and is the subject of the lawsuit filed against him by five-year employee Lisa T. Jackson. The Savannah Morning Report has details of the suit, which alleges that Jackson “was the victim of sexual harassment and a persistent pattern of racial discrimination in the workplace.”

According to Jackson’s initial suit, she and her employees were constantly subjected to “violent behavior by Bubba Hiers, violent behavior that included sexual harassment as well as racial harassment, assault, battery and other humiliating conduct.”

Unsurprisingly, Deen’s lawyers have filed to dismiss, on the grounds that the suit is “designed to damage Deen’s reputation and value of her businesses.”

But at least they can all agree on one thing! This case is being moved to federal court. Jackson initially filed before the state’s Superior Court, basing most of her claims on Georgia labor laws, but recently filed an amended suit that ropes in federal claims and thus raises jurisdictional issues. Both parties agree that the case should be tried in front of US District Court.

[Savannah Now]

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