Posted at 2: 16
Friday evening owner Dov Charney, American Apparel at a rally in Los Angeles in 2009. (Reuters/Mario Anzuoni/files)A woman who brought 250 million sexual harassment against American Apparel Inc. Executive Dov Charney could be forced to take the case to arbitration rather than in court.
Brooklyn, New York, the judge said at a meeting on Friday that it may reject the claim that young saleswoman in Charney save companies as slave sex.
Struggling clothing chain said the case should be heard by an arbitrator.
Stuart Slotnick, lawyer for American Apparel and Charney, complained that the media event, with the plaintiff Irene Morales, now 20, in newspapers and on NBC's "today" morning news show.
He also told the judge it was Morales, who chased Charney.
"The plaintiff has been stalking my client and said," Please let me be your slave, I will do anything for you, '' Slotnick told Bernadette Bayne of Justice at the hearing.
"Maybe it should be on the show today!" judge responded, prompting howling laughter in the courtroom.
Morales accused Charney of forcing her to perform sexual acts for more than eight months, in fear, otherwise they may lose their jobs.
She also sued American Apparel and its directors for failing to stop Charney, from acting as "sexual predators".
Her lawyer Eric Baum, "the company is trying to silence her in confidential arbitration," said the judge.
Morales in American Apparel, Los Angeles in January 2009 and returned briefly last summer as an independent contractor, only to suffer from psychological abuse, Baum said.
Charney, 42, was repeatedly subjected to sexual harassment lawsuits. He owns 51.8% of American Apparel, regulate the flow of the show.
After the hearing, Slotnick said Morales Charney emails that betrayed his position as a victim.
"It is trying to shake down companies and offered sex in exchange for money, clothing and plane tickets," he said.
Baum said Morales "talking" with Charney after she had left the company.
He said that "a victim of sexual harassment and violence in the workplace often do not take steps to protect themselves." "This prevents Dov Charney right to sexual assault and abuse of his staff."
Baum said Morales unemployed and seeking work. On Wednesday he filed in Los Angeles against American Apparel and Charney similar action on behalf of four other women.
In Friday's hearing, Bayne said that she would be called American Apparel two agreements that Morales had agreed to arbitrate disputes.
"I think you should go to arbitration," said the judge. She later qualified her statement, saying, "Let me look at documents. I want to see the whole picture here. "
The judge did not say when she would manage.
American Apparel are trying to refinance their debts after struggling with losses and falling sales. As already stated, it may not have sufficient liquidity to support operations until 2011, and that there are serious doubts that he will remain in business.
It was Morales against American Apparel Inc. et al, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Kings County, no. 5018/2011.
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