A billionaire couple from New York is being sued by their former assistant for sexual harassment.

The lawsuit, filed by 47 year-old William Gamble in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleges that billionaire Philip Falcone’s wife Lisa Maria subjected him to homophobic comments, repeatedly hit on him and physically abused him when he rebuffed her advances. Gamble was hired to maintain the couple’s five homes.

According to court documents, there were problems from the start. During his first interview Lisa Maria allegedly asked Gamble if he was gay, “uncomfortably replying in the affirmative, Falcone thereafter saw fit to utter homophobic comments directed at gay people in general and [Gamble] in particular.” the filing says.

The filing goes on to say that on March 27, 2009 “a visibly inebriated Falcone confronted and assaulted [Gamble]…forcibly pushing her hand down his pants to grab his genitals… When rebuffed, Falcone struck [Gamble] three times with her hand forcefully enough to leave deep bruises on his abdomen.”

A spokesperson for the Falcone family said “This is an absolutely false, baseless lawsuit which is nothing more than a transparent attempt by a disgruntled former employee, let go after two months, to extract money…Phil and Lisa Maria have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind and any suggestion to the contrary is completely untrue, as are all the other allegations in the complaint.”

If you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, please contact the San Antonio employment lawyers of Melton & Kumler, LLP, by calling 800-681-6932.