A former personal assistant for Phyllis Diller has sued her production company, saying she was forced to work weekends with little sleep caring for the late comedian and is owed back compensation.
(Flickr/Jeff Tidwell)
Kathryn Labeaf filed the lawsuit Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Phil Dil Productions Ltd. She alleges she is due overtime pay, compensation for missed meal and rest breaks and other damages.
A representative for the company could not be immediately reached.
The 95-year-old Diller died last Aug. 20.
According to the suit, Labeaf was hired as Diller’s personal assistant in June 2006 and was required to work 48 hours straight for two weekends each month.
Labeaf cared for Diller all hours of the day and had to observe a baby monitor in the entertainer’s room and check on her if she heard any noises from the device, the suit states.
“In addition, since Ms. Diller was very active for her age (she) would want to say up late at night and Labeaf was required to stay up with her and talk, even of Labeaf had (awakened) early that day and needed to be up early the next day to attend to Ms. Diller’s needs,” the suit states.
Labeaf also was expected to cook and serve dinner at Diller’s parties as well as clean up and bring drinks all night long until the last guest departed, according to the complaint.
Labeaf was unable to take rest or meal breaks because of all the chores demanded of her, the suit states.
Last July, Diller’s son, Perry Diller, told her he was firing her because he wanted to provide nursing care to the comedian, according to the suit.
He convinced his mother to let Labeaf go despite the comedian’s initial objections, the suit states.
Labeaf asked Phil Dil Productions in February for her payroll records and personnel files, but her request was denied, the suit states.
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As counsel for Ms. LaBeaf, I must point out that I understand she mostly enjoyed working for Ms. Diller. However, Ms. LaBeaf is due overtime pay, compensation for missed meal and rest breaks and other damages, not necessarily “horrible working conditions,” just a failure to comply with the California Labor Code. We requested those responsible for payments to provide us a copy of Ms. LaBeaf’s personnel file and pay records to amicably resolve this issue without resorting to litigation and were ignored. Please email req@quintlaw.com for any further questions about the action.