Alleged Sexual Harassment Victim Deserves $10 Mill, Lawyer Says

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — A hologram producer and three of his companies should pay more than $10 million to a former employee who he allegedly sexually harassed in 2015, an attorney for the plaintiff told a jury Friday, but a lawyer for the firms said the woman's claims were unsubstantiated and motivated by money.

The two sides made their pitches to the Los Angeles Superior Court jury that heard the three-week trial of 32-year-old Elizabeth Taylor's lawsuit against Alki David, FilmOnTV, Hologram USA and Hologram USA Entertainment Inc.

Taylor said she was hired in January 2015 as an account executive at FilmOnTV and fired that June. She testified that he once picked her up by the ankles and walked her upside down around the office, exposing her underwear. She also said he played an offensive video on her computer and brought a male stripper into the workplace to celebrate a female executive's birthday.

David's constant outbursts in the court during trial prompted Judge Christopher Lui to fine him on four different occasions for a total of $9,500 and to ultimately ban him from the courtroom on Thursday. Luis said he repeatedly disobeyed his orders to stop lashing out at Taylor and her attorney, Lisa Bloom, and to not talk about excluded evidence before the jury.

Bloom started her presentation by apologizing to the jury for having to listen to David's outbursts. She said her client had waited four years for her day in court.

"And so we're here to get some justice," Bloom said.

David's behavior left no doubt about the type of person he is, Bloom said.

"Alki is a compulsive harasser and predator," said Bloom. "If he feels like doing it, he does it. He was out of control in the workplace and in the courtroom."

Even David acknowledged he could be vindictive, Bloom said.

"Alki David himself told you he could be really (epithet) vicious when people came after him," Bloom said.

Bloom recommended that Taylor be awarded $10 million for her pain and suffering, plus another another $255,000 in past and future lost wages and $65,520 for future medical expenses.

But lawyer Ellyn Garofalo, on behalf of the three David companies, said Taylor was a "troubled, difficult employee" and a "drama queen" who lied on her own resume when she was hired.

Taylor promised financial benefits to others who would testify on her behalf and she gave "evasive" and "reluctant" testimony on the witness stand, according to Garafalo.

Taylor never complained about David during the entire time she was on the payroll, Garofalo said.

Acknowledging that David's courtroom conduct was "not what we would expect," he nonetheless told the truth, Garofalo said.

In the audience Friday was Taylor's co-plaintiff, 42-year-old Chasity Jones. In April, she was awarded $11 million in compensatory and punitive damages. She alleged she was fired for refusing to have sex with David. Jones testified on behalf of Taylor earlier this week.

City News Service