Henry Ian Cusick Lost in Sexual Harassment Suit

The actor, Henry Ian Cusick who plays Desmond Hume on the hit ABC series "Lost" may, in fact, wish he was lost on a desert island, if Chelsea Stone has her way. Henry Ian Cusick has been named in a sexual harassment suit leveled by Stone. The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 24, 2009. Chelsea Stone is a former employee of ABC Entertainment. In the suit which is posted in it's entirety on the E!Online website, Chelsea Stone claims that Cusick fondled her behind and back while making 'moaning noises.' She added that he also pressed his face between her breasts and moved it back and forth. He is also alleged to have kissed her on the lips. Stone maintains that she did nothing to prompt Henry Ian Cusick's attentions and his advances were unwanted and unwarranted. The incident between Chelsea Stone and Henry Ian Cusick is said to have happened on or around October 16, 2007.

Stone further claims that when she made ABC and Grass Skirt Entertainment, the company overseeing the production of "Lost", aware of his advances, she was told simply to ignore Cusick. Chelsea Stone indicated after she reported Cusick's alleged behavior, her work environment became 'hostile'. She added that approximately twelve days after the incident she was terminated from her employment with ABC.

Chelsea Stone claims include allegations that she miscarried as a result of the stress she was under. She is seeking redress for financial costs incurred because of the miscarriage. Per E!Online, Chelsea Stone is pursuing undisclosed damages for "hostile work environment harassment, failure to remedy and prevent harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and sexual battery."

Suit - Counter Suit

Henry Ian Cusick is not the first actor at ABC to be charged with sexual harassment. In fact, Rob Lowe and his wife, Sheryl Berkoff were sued by not one but two of their nannies for sexual harassment. To be fair the nannies suits were counter suits as each was sued by Lowe originally for a breach of confidentiality documents they signed when they entered into Lowe's employ. In one suit, Lowe's wife was the sole defendant. According to hiphop-elements.com, the nanny Laura Boyce alleged that Sheryl Berkoff-Lowe "made numerous sexually crude, lascivious and racially derogatory comments." According to zimbio.com, Berkoff-Lowe was accused of parading around in the nude and making offensive sexual and racist remarks. In fact, Sheryl Berkoff-Lowe is alleged to have used the n-word regarding Boyce's boyfriend, who the article said played for the NBA. It is humorous to note that while the article never divulged Laura Boyce's boyfriend's race, one assumes his playing for the NBA is supposed to be synonymous with his being black.

The second nanny to file a counter-claim against Lowe was Jessica Gibson. Gibson alleged that Lowe 'groped her and exposed himself to her.' According to Lowe, Gibson was initially sued for trying to extort $1.5 million dollars from he and his wife as 'hush money' or she would divulge information about his family.

The Big One

Marlon Brando has the distinction of being sued posthumously for sexual harassment. According to contactmusic.com, Marlon Brando's former business manager Jo An Corrales sued Brando's estate for 'sexual harassment and wrongful termination'. Corrales alleges that during her employment Marlon Brando forced her to watch porn films with him, he exposed himself and also touched her in a way that she was not comfortable with. She further alleged that Marlon Brando regaled her with tales of his various sexual exploits over the years and also called she and other female employees by derogatory names.

Marlon Brando's estate and Jo An Corrales reached what is termed an 'amicable' settlement in 2006. The particulars of the settlement were not available for republication.

Whether Henry Ian Cusick is found to be guilty, the nature of the allegations reflect badly on his character. Perhaps in today's climate of 'all publicity is good publicity' the fall out will not be so bad for the accuser or the accused.

Sources

http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/4/20771/1/?

http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/4/23565/1/

http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/4/22699/1/

http://www.zimbio.com/Laura+Boyce/articles/4/Rob+Lowe+former+Nanny+Tears?

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/brandos%20estate%20sued%20by%20former%20business%20manager?

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-02-03-brando-estate-lawsuit_x.htm?