Tastey
02-07-2002, 05:23 PM
(FROM THE EUR) *Owww, I don't feel so good! That's probably what the Godfather of Soul, James Brown is saying to himself these days. Brown is being sued by Lisa Agbalaya, a former employee who is suing him for alleged sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
Brown testified Wednesday that he "never touched'' Agbalaya and that he's "a church-going man.'' Agbalaya worked for several years in the West Coast office of Brown's company.
"I never touched Ms. Agbalaya-Ross, and she knows it,'' Brown, 68, told jurors in the sixth day of his trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. "I didn't touch nobody, and I would never touch a married woman.''
Agbalaya, 36, sued Brown in May 2000, a few months after losing her job, claiming the singer repeatedly demanded sex from her and other female employees and subjected her to a "continual pattern of discrimination and harassment.'' She is seeking $1 million in damages from Brown.
The world renown entertainer has cast himself as a celebrity targeted by a disgruntled former employee seeking to "make a quick buck.''
Agbalaya testified last week that the most overt sexual advances came in August 1999 at Brown's compound in South Carolina, where she said he grabbed her by the hips to pull her against him. During the same visit, she told jurors, he presented her with a pair of zebra-striped panties for her to wear, which she refused, and told her he wanted to "rub you down'' and make you feel good.''
She also testified that later that same year, in a telephone conversation, Brown told her, "the only way for a woman to make it to the top is to sleep with her boss.''
Brown testified Wednesday that he "never touched'' Agbalaya and that he's "a church-going man.'' Agbalaya worked for several years in the West Coast office of Brown's company.
"I never touched Ms. Agbalaya-Ross, and she knows it,'' Brown, 68, told jurors in the sixth day of his trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. "I didn't touch nobody, and I would never touch a married woman.''
Agbalaya, 36, sued Brown in May 2000, a few months after losing her job, claiming the singer repeatedly demanded sex from her and other female employees and subjected her to a "continual pattern of discrimination and harassment.'' She is seeking $1 million in damages from Brown.
The world renown entertainer has cast himself as a celebrity targeted by a disgruntled former employee seeking to "make a quick buck.''
Agbalaya testified last week that the most overt sexual advances came in August 1999 at Brown's compound in South Carolina, where she said he grabbed her by the hips to pull her against him. During the same visit, she told jurors, he presented her with a pair of zebra-striped panties for her to wear, which she refused, and told her he wanted to "rub you down'' and make you feel good.''
She also testified that later that same year, in a telephone conversation, Brown told her, "the only way for a woman to make it to the top is to sleep with her boss.''