LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The president of Warner Bros. Pictures is being sued by a former babysitter for his newborn child who alleges she is owed more than $175,000 after he abruptly fired her in 2020 only two months into her 13-month contract.
Maureen Russell's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations against Ryan Kavanaugh include breach of a written employment contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, failure to pay overtime wages and failure to furnish accurate wage statements. She seeks unspecified damages in the suit filed Tuesday.
A representative for Kavanaugh could not be immediately reached for comment.
Russell and her business, Serenity Placement Agency, were hired by Kavanaugh to provide care to his newborn child last May, the suit states. The two initially had a verbal agreement, but Russell later asked for a written contract in order to protect herself, the suit states. Kavanaugh balked at first, but later concurred and the two reached a written deal on June 28 for her to babysit for the child 12 hours a day, four days a week from June 26 until Sept. 26, 2020 and 24 hours daily from Sept. 27, 2020 through July 27, 2021 -- all at $40 an hour, according to the suit.
However, Kavanaugh abruptly fired Russell last July 17, citing “child custody issues,'' the suit states.
Kavanaugh, 46, also is a producer and financier as well as the founder and former CEO of Relativity Media.
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