Thursday May 1, 2008
Above: Laura Boyce (L), former nanny to actor Rob Lowe's family, and attorney Gloria Allred attend a press conference at Allred's offices on May 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. Below: Sheryl Berkoff and Rob Lowe attend the grand opening of the Cole Haan boutique on February 22, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From top: David Livingston/Getty Images; Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Cole Haan
Rob Lowe's wife Sheryl is slamming another nanny's claim that she sexually harassed her.
In a suit filed Wednesday, Laura Boyce, the second nanny to file counter-claims against the Lowes in the past month, alleges that Sheryl walked around naked and repeatedly made racist, crude comments about Boyce's boyfriend.
Boyce did not name the actor in the suit.
In a statement released to Usmagazine.com, Sheryl said:
“As a mother of two young boys, it is sickening and disgusting that Mrs. Allred and Ms. 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.'
"The charges against me are lies meant to embarrass and humiliate. I find it deeply offensive the false allegation that I would use racially insensitive comments.
"I’m certain that my dearest and longtime friend, and godfather to my children, Marcus Allen would beg to differ with their charges. We do not see color in my household; my children do not see color.
"It deeply saddens me that I even have to explain this to my children. These false allegations are made all the more painful because our family has been betrayed by a woman we welcomed into our home and treated like family.
"Laura Boyce was physically abused by a man with whom she was having a relationship. I had to take her to the emergency room once, and advised her that she had to be more careful about the men she dated, and that she was running with the wrong crowd. We are shocked that she has now chosen to destroy our right to peace, quiet, and privacy.”
Boyce is one of three ex-employees the Lowes have sued. They claim they spread lies about them and broke confidentiality agreements
It is the second counter-suit filed against Lowe and his wife.
Their ex-nanny, Jessica Gibson filed a suit against the actor April 14. She alleged the actor fondled her and exposed himself to her.
Both Boyce and Gibson are being represented by attorney Gloria Allred.
Rob Lowe's lawyer, Larry Stein, said the Boyce's suit is an attempt by Allred to divert "negative publicity" she "universally received" after Gibson's lawsuit.
Boyce sobbed her way through a press conference in L.A. Thursday.
"She is not going to be left defenseless and alone just to take the numerous attacks that have been leveled at her and upon her," Allred told Us. "We're not going to stand for it, it is as simple as that."
Allred added: "She is not going to be intimidated, she’s not going to be deterred and we're not going to stop until there is some justice in this case."
Boyce said in a statement: "I loved caring for their children and I respected the Lowes and did everything I could to assist them in running their home, and taking care of their children. I left because I could no longer put up with Mrs. Lowe's conduct towards me. When I left they did not pay me my last paycheck."
She added: "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 that the truth should come out and I have confidence that it will."
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