Robert De Niro Nanny Sues For $40,000

NEW YORK — A nanny who was fired by Robert De Niro has sued the actor for more than $40,000 in overtime pay.

Alexis Barry says in court papers that she was never paid for more than 750 hours of overtime and never took 10 vacation days. She began working for De Niro and his wife, Grace Hightower, in August 2006, and says she was fired 10 months later _ after she said she was going to quit. The couple have an 11-year-old son.

Barry says she is owed more than $40,000. She filed a lawsuit Friday in Manhattan's state Supreme Court.

De Niro spokesman Stan Rosenfield says he can't comment because he hasn't seen the lawsuit.

Comments

[oceanlover]

DeNiro sold out long ago with his American Express card commercials. It's been ages since he has done the type of work he should be doing. Full stop. It's all about the money as he grows old. (Clearly that is the case because $40,000.00 is spit for him yet he won't pay his former nanny her due.) Russell Crowe had it right when he called him out on his selling out a couple years back for doing those Amex commercials. Crowe has more integrity and just as much talent as DeNiro. And, he's got class. DeNiro's wife, (his fourth right?) is a former airline stewardess, who seems to think because she married DeNiro, she's entitled to behave like a full blown b***h and treat others with more talent and brains than her, like crap by virtue of who she married. LOL. Her reputation proceeds her in NYC. Her goal in life is to be seen going to as many society events as possible. He now tags dutifully along like an obedient puppy dog. What is it with guys like DeNiro as they age? Pathetic. Sounds like his wife is behind his every move these days, and this latest episode is no different.

[coastalcarla]

The child is 11 years old. She worked for him less than a year. And he owes her $40,000.00? For WHAT, might I ask? They're glorified babysitters. And this isn't even a baby we're talking about here - he's in junior high school. What is going on with these stupid nannies, that they have such a sense of entitlement that they expect to get paid that kind of money? This is as bad as the one reported on earlier this week, crying "woe is me" because after getting free room and board, a paycheck and free travel all over the world for two years, she managed to get herself into $8,000.00 worth of debt and then had to move in with relatives when they had to let her go. These people are unreal.

[harriettubman]

I don't get why someone who doesn't work needs a nanny in the first place. That's called "not wanting to raise your own child." I understand it. My aunt was a nanny for a wealthy family and the parents were always gone. She ended up raising all the children. No wonder Tori Spelling adored her nanny yet had such an ambivalent relationship with her own mother.

[copestir]

I have no doubt that they owe her the money. To even have a nanny shows they do not value the time it takes to nurture and parent your own child.

[Zoe2]

I have a friend who is a nanny to some very wealthy clients and they are never with their child. They have someone else with their child from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to bed. I tell my friend she is an angel sent to this child because he will have someone in his life who will give him affection and attention. I personally think these people should have nannies because the child is better off not spending time with parents who are void of intimacy.

[drucelt]

The women is a working stiff...she is not asking for millions....she is not making any outlandish claims of abuse...she is simply asking for back wages...Why are so many attacking her as frivolous...DeNiro is a great actor... he is not a sacred national treasure....Give the women a break.

[harriettubman]

Yeah, just look at what the nanny for Rob Lowe is going thru. He has teenaged sons, his wife doesn't work, yet had nannies. Scratching my head.

[copestir]

I can not beleive this. Wha t is a mtter with these rich folks.

[captainindustry]

Forty grand? Forty GRAND!!! Sure sweetheart. I think there's 50 large in those jeans over there. Take the forty and give the other 10 g's to the pool boy. I wanted to tip him for bringing me a coke the other day.

Hollywood.

[truthyguy]

Another shinning example of why we should screen law school applicants better and should raise the standards for admission to the Bar.

"Been injured? Know someone who has been injured? Know someone who knows someone who may have been injured? Know someone who wants to be injured? Yes! Great. Call 1-800-shyster. No recovery, No fee."

[justobserve]

But if there is recovery then you may be hit with more than you recovered!

[captainindustry]

And if by some chance you happen to sprain your finger while dialing my number....

CALL ME!!!! Nokia has deep pockets.

[Rendon76]

Can I take her spot? I'm unemployed, C'mon Mr. DeNiro.

[HelenBach]

Madonna's nanny also tried to quit and was fired immediately.

then Madonna's attempt to adopt another child was denied

[dallashailee]

I've heard that his wife is something. To be more exact...something that starts with a "b" and ends with a "h".

[Axekick]

Domestic servants are not entitle to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

For her to be claiming that many hours overtime I assume she had to be a domestic servant(live in nanny)

[harriettubman]

How many nannies do you know that don't live with the wealthy? My aunt was a nanny and surely lived with the family she worked for. The rich want children but want someone else to raise them so they have live in, full time help. My aunt loved the family she worked for but trust me she did everything in that house. The wife didn't lift a finger!

[godivademaus]

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, live-in employees must be paid for every hour they work but are not automatically entitled to the overtime differential. (There are some exceptions to the live-in exclusion, notably NY and MD.) /Please note: this lawsuit was filed in NY, and the DeNiro's primary residence is in NY).

[Kevbo68]

Are you suing me?

[OrganOfThought]

NO ?!!

You must be suing me because there is no one else here !

[mizerello]

Why is it that it seems that all rich people don't seem to feel the need to pay their employees well? They either seem to hire illegals which they underpay and then claim not to have know they were illegals and that they meant to pay their taxes...or, they hire people they abuse both verbally and by not paying them.

[GiannaX]

There are two sides to every story.

[harriettubman]

Sure, there are but I'll start with the parent/child bonding first.

[fuzzyhearts]

How do you think they got rich in the first place?

[harriettubman]

Exactly. LOL, from all purposes I've seen some mizer rich people. They have children but hire nannies. By the time they're school age, they send them to boarding school to be raised. They hire illegals thru word of mouth. Those same illegals were probably the same nannies for the entire toney area.

Many wealthy hate to pay taxes, just look at all the nominees for federal posts over the last 15 yrs with tax issues. Switerland was a tax haven for years, now its the Cayman's.

And people wonder why Mrs. Astor's son was so indifferent to her and tried to take her money. Obviously, there was no mother/son bond between the two.

[GiannaX]

Mr. DeNiro has worked his a** off for years. Nothing was handed to him on a silver platter. People amaze me with their blanket judgment of wealthy people. You don't know these people personally. Envy of others is like drinking poison with the hope that the object of YOUR judgment dies. GET A LIFE!

[copestir]

They do not seem to value all the work that others do for them.

[Tommygun264]

My heart goes out to the nanny. Just think about it - every time the boss tied one on he'd be asking her, "Did you f**k my wife? Did you f**k my wife?"

[NTexasHillbilly]

That's one of the silliest comments I've ever read on HuffPost.

[Tommygun264]

You obviously never saw DeNiro in the movie "Raging Bull". In the movie DeNiro's character gets drunk and badgers his brother, repeatedly asking him that question.

[firewmn]

you ragin bull...

[Tommygun264]

FINALLY! Someone who gets the joke.

[annjude]

You make no sense, tommygun264. As usual, GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT. I believe Mr. DeNiro should have the same right as any other person. If I had a nanny who said she was going to quit, I would fire her on the spot.

[Tommygun264]

It's a joke. You would get it if you had seen "Raging Bull".

[ilovevegas]

slow news day? Yawn

[pollyannacowgirl]

In all fairness, if a nanny threatens to quit, you absolutely SHOULD fire her. Even when they give two weeks' notice, you should let them go immediately. If someone is not happy taking care of your child, you cannot take the chance that they will harm your child out of resentment or tamper with anything in your household.

And by the same token, you make CERTAIN that you treat them fairly. They are doing the most important job there is. Raising your child for you.

[captainindustry]

this post makes a lot of sense to me. although "fire her" seems a bit harsh and inappropriate. If she isn't happy, then remove her. But you shouldn't fire someone without a better reason.

That can be a real stigma. Especially in the child care biz.

Say. Here's a novel idea. Take care of your OWN damn kid.