Robert De Niro company found liable in gender discrimination case

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After nine days of testimony inside a New York courtroom, legendary movie star Robert De Niro

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You talking to me?

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In the spotlight off screen. A jury finding his company, Canal Productions, liable for gender discrimination and retaliation on Thursday, ordering it to pay $1.2 million in damages to his former longtime assistant. Graham Chase Robinson had worked for the Hollywood star since 2008. De Niro, who was also a defendant in the case, was not found personally at fault by the jury. De Niro’s attorney calling the verdict a great victory for Mr. De Niro. He is absolved. He is not liable for anything

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that was charged against him at all. But Chase Robinson’s lawyer says that’s just legal semantics.

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To get a, a verdict against Canal Productions is functionally equivalent to getting a verdict against Robert De Niro.

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Robinson spent 11 years working for De Niro before quitting in 2019. Following the split, De Niro and his company filed a $6 million lawsuit against Robinson, claiming she abused her position and inappropriately used her employer’s fund for her personal gain, including 5 million of De Niro’s frequent flyer miles. Robinson filed a $12 million countersuit, claiming De Niro assigned her stereotypical female job duties inconsistent with her job title, subjected her to sexist

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comments and conduct, and paid her less than a male employee based on stereotypes. During his testimony, De Niro denied any wrongdoing and dismissed Robinson’s allegations as nonsense. According to the court transcripts, the Oscar winner shouted, “Shame on you, Chase Robinson,” from the witness stand when asked if he ever suggested Robinson scratch his back. De Niro admitting he might have called her petulant and a spoiled brat during her employment.

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I think for the first time in four years she can breathe and she can move on with her life.

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And Steph, you mentioned in your report there that-

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Yeah

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… De Niro and the production company had their own claims against Robinson. What happened with those?

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So she is not liable for any of those claims, and she doesn’t have to return those air miles either. We reached out to De Niro’s, uh, attorney directly for comment and did not hear back.

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That’s a lot of Sky Miles. All right.

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It is.

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Uh, Stephanie, thank you for that. Appreciate it.

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Thank you.

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