Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - In Rambo's house, you walk on eggs

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Tuesday, November 30, 1999

In Rambo's house, you walk on eggs
Stallone ex-employees say they were fired for such reasons as making eye contact with him
Associated Press

MIAMI - Five former cooks and cleaners for Sylvester Stallone sued him Monday, claiming they were fired for breaking household rules that included not making eye contact with him or speaking to his mother.
   The five, all temporary workers hired for 15 days in 1995, are seeking more than $1.5 million in damages. They said they were fired six days into their contracts.
   They said they were told by Stallone's wife, Jennifer Flavin, they could be fired if they looked directly into the actor's eyes and were to "back out and vanish immediately" when Stallone entered a room at his former Miami estate.
   They were also not to eat or drink anything from the house and were required to undergo daily searches, the lawsuit said. Maids were to check guests' suitcases "to see if they took towels or silverware" when leaving.
   Also prohibited: speaking to Stallone's mother, Jackie Stallone, who lived there - "Nor will you let her talk to you," the lawsuit said.
   For Christmas, Jackie Stallone allegedly gave each of the employees a pen and an autographed photo of herself. The lawsuit said Flavin accused the employees of stealing the items from Stallone's mother and fired them for speaking to her.
   "Sylvester Stallone is no Rocky or Rambo in real life," said Ellis Rubin, the workers' attorney. "Here is a man of earnings, probably $1,000 a minute, when he works, and millions when he doesn't work. And he beat some housekeepers and cooks out of a small amount of money."
   Martin Singer, the Stallones' attorney, called the suit "purely fictional."
   "They were fired for absolute cause; they didn't perform the work as requested," said Singer. "We're confident that we will dispose of the lawsuit quickly."

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