Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Lady Gaga had to sit for a six-hour deposition for a lawsuit filed by her former assistant, Jennifer O’Neill for unpaid wages at the beginning of August. O’Neill claims she was never paid for her overtime work (7,168 hours) amounting to $380,000. Her base salary was $75,000. O’Neill claims that she barely had time to eat or sleep when she was on the clock for Gaga.
The superstar songstress, aka Stefani Germanotta, swapped the stage for the stand and a six-hour videotaped deposition on August 6 in connection with a lawsuit filed by her former personal assistant, Jennifer O’Neill, Celebuzz has learned.
O’Neill is claiming Gaga’s Mermaid Touring Company owes her $380,000 in unpaid overtime. She has alleged in her suit there were no breaks for meals or “even sleep” and she was required for “spontaneous, random matters in the middle of the night” for Gaga.
“I have been very pleased with the outcome of discovery thus far,” O’Neill’s attorney, Paul Millus, of the law firm Snitow, Kanfer, Holtzer and Millus, told Celebuzz.
“Just by her (Gaga’s) responses, I believe our case is strong.”
O’Neill, 41, has claimed she worked for the “Bad Romance” singer for 13 months and was at her beck and call including “ensuring the promptness of a towel following a shower and serving as a personal alarm clock to keep (Gaga) on schedule”.
Millus told Celebuzz he believes the case will go to trial.
“At this point, there’s nothing to stop it from going to trial,” he said, adding that if that happened, Gaga would be required to take to the witness stand.
“She absolutely will,” he said, adding: “Lady Gaga and Jennifer knew each other as friends before they worked together professionally.
“Anytime there’s litigation that may have a more personal element, they may be more difficult to resolve.”
Millus said his client only has one intention — to be paid the money he said she earned.
He said: “Jennifer’s motivation is pure and simple — to obtain payment for hours worked. It doesn’t matter if you work for a star or it’s glamorous. Work is work.”
O’Neill’s attorney added that Gaga’s motivation in the lawsuit could be more spiteful.
“She has indicated she would like to contest this matter in court,” Millus said.
“If that’s what she wants — and my client wants — I am more than willing to go there, 100 percent.”
