“Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Albert Manzo, who’s married to former castmember Caroline Manzo, has been accused of verbally abusing his staff and failing to pay overtime.
In a complaint filed with the Superior Court of New Jersey in Passaic County dated Dec. 2, a former waitress at the catering hall, The Brownstone, accused Albert, co-owner Tommy Manzo and manager Robert Manger, among other unnamed persons, of verbal abuse and failure to pay overtime.
In the complaint, Lanise Jackson said she left her job in November because “she could no longer endure the racial, sexual, ethnic and country of origin epithets hurled at her hourly.”
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She alleged that she and other employees were routinely called “bitch,” “f–cking stupid bitch,” “spic bitches,” “lazy motherf–ckers,” and “f–king screw up.”
She also claimed that Tommy had said to her, “Are you blind? What are you, Chinese? Open your eyes.”
Additionally, she alleged that she worked more than 40 hours a week at The Brownstone, but didn’t receive compensation for overtime.
Jackson is suing for damages compensable through applicable New Jersey labor law, “including but not limited to, compensatory and punitive damages, lost wages, emotional distress, legal fees, etc.”
In May 2011, another former employee, Sandy Fernandez, sued The Brownstone, Albert and Tommy for similar charges of unpaid compensation for overtime.
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Attorneys for The Brownstone, Albert and Tommy didn’t immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Albert Manzo has appeared on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” with wife Caroline since its inaugural season in 2009. Earlier this year, Caroline announced she would not return for the show’s sixth season.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.