RIP Paul Allen

Microsoft Co-Founder Is Accused of Harassment

Court: Suit says employee of L.A. company was fired after rejecting his advances. Computer mogul Paul Allen denies allegation.

April 04, 1998|RALPH FRAMMOLINO | TIMES STAFF WRITER

Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen has been sued for sexual harassment in Los Angeles Superior Court by a woman who says she was fired from one of the billionaire's businesses after twice rejecting his sexual advances on a business trip three years ago.

Allen strongly denied the charges brought by Abbie Phillips, a former manager and partner in Storyopolis Investments, his Los Angeles-based film, television and interactive media company. He said Phillips resigned after being confronted with allegations that she stole company funds.

Phillips' lawsuit, filed Thursday, accuses the computer mogul of twice forcing himself on her after she was invited to stay over at his Seattle mansion during a May 1996 business conference. The first time, Allen fondled Phillips' breast after "physically coercing her down," the suit says.

After chiding Allen, Phillips then retreated to a guest bedroom for the evening, the suit said.

"In the morning, he came in the closed bedroom door, let himself in, crawled into bed with her and attempted to have sex," said David Yardley, Phillips' Malibu attorney. "She jumped up, ran to the bathroom, closed and locked the door.

"She had a discussion with him the next morning, that it was inappropriate, that she was happily married and she would appreciate this not occurring again," he said. "He did not respond."

Almost immediately, Phillips was subjected to a "continuous campaign" of retaliation from Allen and his sister, Jo Allen Patton, who is also a shareholder and officer in the mogul's Vulcan Northwest holding company, the suit said.

Bodyguards: Vulcan CEO Allen tried to smuggle bones out of Africa

Claims of sexual harassment, criminal activity persist as Vulcan security team lawsuits continue

By Levi Pulkkinen, SeattlePI Published 5:24 pm PST, Thursday, February 28, 2013

Luggage packed with giraffe bones could mean trouble for Vulcan CEO Jody Allen and her brother -- Microsoft co-founder and Seahawks owner Paul Allen -- as lawsuits filed by the siblings’ bodyguards proceed.

The allegation – that Jody Allen tried to sneak home the bones while on safari in Botswana – is the most concrete claim made so far by a group of former Vulcan Inc. bodyguards who’ve sued both Allens and their firm, which was founded by Paul Allen, who remains the company's chairman. But the giraffe’s bones may turn out to be the smallest skeleton tucked in the Allen family closet.

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Silenced by court orders and confidentiality agreements, the former members of the Allens’ personal security detail have made vague claims that the Allens were involved in criminal activity and bribery, and that Jody Allen sexually harassed security officers. They also claim other Vulcan executives turned a blind eye or worse to the behavior.

At least five former members of the Allens’ personal security team have sued the siblings and Vulcan. Court documents indicate that 10 other former members of the team have previously settled with Vulcan after closed hearings before a private mediator.

In a series of lawsuits filed in King County Superior Court, the security officers accused Jody Allen of sexually harassing members of the executive protection team. They’ve also claimed she, her brother and others with the firm have committed and covered up crimes, which have yet to be described in detail.

Those alleged crimes may be revealed later this year, when attorneys for two former leaders of the executive protection team – a retired FBI special agent among them – are scheduled to take their cases to a jury. The Allens would be called to testify, as would dozens of current and former Vulcan employees alleged to have witnessed illegal or unethical activities.

Vulcan attorney Harry Schneider described the claims as "meritless" and accused the employees of attempting to wring money out of their former employer.

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Ghost of Igloi wrote:

justthefacts wrote:

Igy:

Scary stuff, but I hope you can continue living a decent quality of life. Best wishes in staying healthy and strong. Maybe you can retire soon, cut back a bit on the stress of a working life and enjoy some nice jogs in the park.

Thanks doing well. It has been nearly nine months since my diagnosis and I still have tomorrow’s radiotherapy treatment, then done. The odds are about 80% I will have no issues, if I do it will be in the first two years and there are other treatment options. Since I was healthy otherwise I able to handle a pretty rigorous treatment regime. Hey, this morning I ran four miles of track work at 5:30 am at 27 degrees. I can’t be that bad, right.?

Igy

What state are you in?

Porkie wrote:

Sprintgeezer wrote:

Microsoft co-founder dead at 65.

Enjoy every day you have!

You in his will?

Nope. I wish! But I did meet him in Seattle at an entrepreneur event and spoke with him a few times after that. Allegations notwithstanding, he seemed to me to be a very decent guy, who had a genuine interest in helping many different types of people succeed in what they wanted to do.

I found it interesting that his and Gates's initial breakthrough came from revising Basic and they came through on their big deal with IBM to provide an operating system only after buying someone else's operating system and revising that.

I'll give it to him: he does shred on guitar in that clip, if it is really his playing we are hearing and not a recording or someone off-stage.

Lots of notes, but not much music. Good try though. Was much more effective with notes that conveyed dollar signs.

Helping a brother wrote:

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

Thanks doing well. It has been nearly nine months since my diagnosis and I still have tomorrow’s radiotherapy treatment, then done. The odds are about 80% I will have no issues, if I do it will be in the first two years and there are other treatment options. Since I was healthy otherwise I able to handle a pretty rigorous treatment regime. Hey, this morning I ran four miles of track work at 5:30 am at 27 degrees. I can’t be that bad, right.?

Igy

What state are you in?

I am in the Boise, Idaho area.

Props to the man for his philanthropy, but I'll take being poor and live to be 100 thank you.

If you have a billion dollars, you've exploited the labor of thousands of people. His wealth/philanthropy should not be celebrated. There should literally be 0 billionaires.

Sprintgeezer wrote:

Microsoft co-founder dead at 65.

Enjoy every day you have!

so interesting that paul allen was a billionaire in this movie

That’s impossible. Because I had dinner with Paul Allen in London, just 10 days ago.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. RIP to a brilliant businessman and visionary.

He had a fantastic looking business card as well. RIP

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

Helping a brother wrote:

What state are you in?

I am in the Boise, Idaho area.

Thanks, I'm in Michigan. I wish we lived closer. All the best and good luck with everything, hopefully you'll be in that 80%:)

Helping a brother wrote:

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

I am in the Boise, Idaho area.

Thanks, I'm in Michigan. I wish we lived closer. All the best and good luck with everything, hopefully you'll be in that 80%:)

Sure and thanks to you. Just plan on living as I had before the diagnosis.

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

Helping a brother wrote:

Thanks, I'm in Michigan. I wish we lived closer. All the best and good luck with everything, hopefully you'll be in that 80%:)

Sure and thanks to you. Just plan on living as I had before the diagnosis.

Good plan friend, my sincerest prayers are with you and your Family:) I was so hoping that you lived in Michigan, but as long as you're living, it's all good!

Thanks bro, I have a close family and friends. So all is good.