From The Horrible Bosses File: Tommy Lee's Former Assistant Files Suit For Being Worked Too Hard
Photo caption: IRWINDALE, CA - May 10: Tommy Lee visits the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Irwindale, CA on May 10, 2008. Dooley Productions / Shutterstock.com
Tommy Lee may excel in glam metal, but he apparently lacks rockin' boss man skills. The Motley Crue drummer's longtime assistant, Michael Anthony Sullivan, has filed suit against Lee for overworking, underpaying and talking smack.
Lee allegedly placed many hats on Sullivan's head - perhaps too many. Sullivan claims he served as Lee's "procurer, Man Friday, chauffeur, guide, bookkeeper, attendant, door-keeper, agent, butler, valet, attendant, cook, shopper, nanny, bodyguard, maid, nurse and nursemaid" from January 2005 to March 2011, reports Reuters. Sullivan says he was on call 24/7 for the apparently demanding rocker.
The suit alleges that Lee worked Sullivan for long stretches of 7-day workweeks without time off or overtime compensation. Sullivan's schedule was especially grueling when on the road with Lee, cranking out 80- to 100- hour weeks.
Sullivan also claims that Lee deducted $1,000 a month for rent from Sullivan's paychecks after Lee asked him to move into his home to better serve him and his family. Lee allegedly also charged Sullivan for rent during the last six months of his employment when he was no longer living at the house.
Adding to the culpable monetary adjustments, Lee is also accused of deducting cell phone charges from Sullivan's paycheck incurred while Sullivan dealt with a car accident, one that occurred while Sullivan was driving Lee's car to the mechanic. Lee also reportedly took money out of his assistant's paycheck to cover a car-insurance deductible related to the accident.
But wait, there's one more accusation. Sullivan says Lee engaged in a "campaign of disparagement" against him once the two parted ways. Sullivan says he has lost two tour-manager positions due to Lee's injections of slander into the industry.
Sullivan seeks no less than $50,000 for punitive damages plus those suffered due to loss of work.
Sounds like both Lee and Sullivan could use a little "Dr. Feelgood" right now.
