Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
The founder of a company known for creating holograms of artists, including the lateTupac ShakurandMichael Jackson, was ordered Friday to pay $11.1 million after a former female employee was allegedly fired for refusing to have sex with him, according to multiple reports.
During opening statements of the dramatic trial on April 16, jurors listened as Jones’ attorney, Lisa Bloom, alleged David once ran his hands up Jones’ legs and ordered her to watch a porn video,reports NBC4.
Davidalso told Bloom, “Do something with your life, woman.”
During the two-week sexual harassment and battery trial, Jones testified that David brought a male stripper to work in celebration of an executive’s birthday. Jones said the performance was offensive and a form of sexual harassment,reports theTimes.
Jurors agreed that Jones, hired in January 2015 and fired in November 2016, was subjected to sexual harassment and battery and wrongfully fired after she refused David’s advances.
A spokesperson for David tells PEOPLE in a statement: “Mr. David denies all of Ms. Jones’s allegations including her allegations of sexual harassment. Mr. David will be filing an appeal to reverse what he believes was an unfair and unjust judgment.”
Attorneys for David and Jones did not immediately return PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
David’shologram company was responsiblefor bringing a digital recreation of murdered rapper Tupac Shakur to Coachella in 2012 and crafting the late Michael Jackson moonwalk during the Billboard Music Awards in 2014.
He is also an heir of the Leventis-David Group, a family company that has made a fortune bottling Coca-Cola, numerous outlets report.
Jones and a former colleague, Elizabeth Taylor, who also alleges sexual harassment and wrongful termination, filed the lawsuit in February 2017. Taylor’s allegations are expected to go to trial in July, according to theTimes.
source: people.com
