Seagal in $1m abuse lawsuit

Steven Seagal's former aid says she was used as his "sex toy"...

12:15 13 April 2010

Action star Steven Seagal is being sued for $1m by his former personal assistant who has claimed that she was treated as his "sex toy".

The lawsuit has been brought against the 'Under Siege' actor and musician by 23-year-old Kayden Nguyen, a former model.

Legal documents also claim Seagal had "been keeping two young female Russian 'Attendants' on staff who were available for his sexual needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

Nguyen is suing him for sexual harassment, illegal trafficking of females for sex, failure to prevent sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and false representation about employment.

Seagal's lawyer Marty Singer has described the lawsuit as "ridiculous and absurd", claiming that Nguyen is simply a "disgruntled ex-employee who was fired".

It said: "The claims in her lawsuit are a complete fabrication without a scintilla of truth."

"I am extremely confident this meritless lawsuit will be dismissed.

"(It) is nothing more than a pre-emptive strike by a disgruntled ex-employee."

Nguyen was hired as the Seagal's executive/personal assistant earlier this year.

She was going to be used on the 58-year-old's reality show, 'Steven Seagal: Lawman' which follows the actor around as he partakes in police duties as a Reserve Deputy Chief of the Sheriff's Office in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

Nguyen was flown from LA to New Orleans to live in his house for the duration of the series.

She claims Seagal sexually assaulted her on her first day of work and on two further occasions, prompting her to leave the house only days after starting the job.

Seagal was one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the late 80s/early 90s with films like 'Nico: Above the Law' and 'Under Siege' becoming box office hits.

His directing debut 'On Deadly Ground', which also starred Michael Caine, was a flop in 1994. After a successful sequel to 'Under Siege', more underperforming films followed.

His multi-picture contract at Warner Brothers was not renewed in the late 90s, sending the majority of his post-2000 career direct to video.