Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - Pacers owner Herb Simon and his wife are the targets of another lawsuit filed by a former nanny alleging she's owned over a half million dollars in back pay. It comes after another former nanny says she was fired by the shopping center owner and his wife after she became pregnant.
It's the third lawsuit filed in less than two weeks by former employees of Pacers owner Herb Simon and his wife. The latest suit by a another former nanny alleges that the Simons failed to pay overtime when she worked in their California home and is due a least a half million dollars in back wages and interest.
Earlier this month, another former nanny and a driver for the Simon's made similar claims.
"All told with the new claimant, Mayra Acosta, along with Robert Young, the driver, their three claims aggregate for just back pay and back pay alone, are in excess of one million dollars," said Joseph A. Davis, plaintiffs' attorney.
Former nanny Claudia Leite also alleges in her suit that Herb and Bui Simon fired her because she became pregnant. The Simons' former chauffeur, Robert Young, said he was fired after he was diagnosed with a severe infection.
The Simons' California attorney was unavailable for comment on the latest lawsuit but issued a statement earlier this month saying that the prior suits are without foundation and have been brought on by two disgruntled former employees who want money and nothing more.
According to Forbes magazine, the 75-year-old shopping mall owner, whose company is based in Indianapolis, has a net worth of $1.1 billion.
"I think at a minimum, the plaintiffs are mystified as to why very, very wealthy people such as the Simons would engage in practices in violation of our California labor code as alleged in the complaint," said Davis.
According to attorneys, there are even more current and former Simon California employees that could bring similar claims in the coming days.
