Paula Deen discrimination lawsuit tossed out
A federal judge Monday threw out race discrimination claims by a former Savannah, Ga., restaurant manager whose lawsuit against Paula Deen has already cost the celebrity cook a valuable chunk of her culinary empire.
Lisa Jackson sued Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, last year saying she suffered from sexual harassment and racially offensive talk and employment practices that were unfair to black workers during her five years as a manager of Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House. Deen is co-owner of the restaurant, which is primarily run by her brother.
But claims of race discrimination by Jackson, who is white, were gutted in the 20-page opinion by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. The judge agreed with lawyers for Deen and Hiers that Jackson has no standing to sue her former employers for what she claims was poor treatment of black workers.
Jackson, at best, “is an accidental victim of the alleged racial discrimination,” Moore said in his ruling.
Guns N Roses and a police chopper
Las Vegas police are investigating whether employees went too far for reportedly helping the guitarist of Guns N Roses execute a grand romantic gesture.
Daren Jay “DJ” Ashba posted a photo on Instagram Saturday of himself and his girlfriend, Colombian actress and model Nathalia Henao, wearing helicopter headgear. He thanked the Las Vegas police department for “the most amazing” private helicopter tour over the city, saying it ended in a field at police headquarters, where he proposed amid roses and “a bottle of the bubble stuff.”
“That was the most incredible day of our life!!” he wrote in the post, which came after a picture of a round-cut diamond solitaire with the caption, “She said yes!!!”
Las Vegas police issued a statement Sunday acknowledging two civilians were granted a ride-along in a helicopter, although they didn’t mention names and didn’t offer many details.
‘Everest, I am your father’
“Star Wars” creator George Lucas and new wife Mellody Hobson have had a baby daughter.
Representatives for the 69-year-old filmmaker announced the birth Monday. Everest Hobson Lucas was born Friday, the first child for Lucas and Hobson, who were married in June. The baby was born via surrogate.
Hobson is Lucas’ second wife. She is president of Ariel Investments and chairman of the board for DreamWorks Animation.
The birthday bunch
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro is 87. Actor Pat Harrington is 84. Actor Danny Bonaduce is 54. TV host/weatherman Sam Champion (TV: “Good Morning America”) is 52.