Bernie Ecclestone's billionaire son-in-law 'abused, assaulted and spat at his butler' during 'tirade' at £100m LA mansion

Luxury: The couple's extravagant Los Angeles mansion, which has 123 rooms and is worth more than £100million - making it the most expensive private residence in America.
The husband of Formula 1 heiress Petra Ecclestone has been accused of spitting at his family butler and pushing him into a wall during a furious row at their LA mansion.




Businessman and art collector James Stunt, 33, is also alleged to have launched a ‘tirade’ of homophobic abuse at butler Carl Hajik, who is gay. Court papers filed last week claim that Stunt called Hajik a ‘lady hater’ who should be ‘wearing a dress’.
 
The complaint filed at Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday tells how an evening meal at the couple’s 123-room, £100 million mansion – the most expensive private residence in America – descended into chaos after the butler accidentally tripped up Mrs Stunt’s toddler niece Sophia as he served chilli oil to Stunt to pour over his pizza.

According to the documents, the 17-month-old child started crying and her parents, Tamara Ecclestone and husband Jay Rutland, who were at the dinner, ‘rushed over…’

'Abused': The Stunt family's ex-butler, Cark Hajik, who is suing is former employer

 

 

The sisters’ mother Slavica was also at the meal.

Hajik insists he apologised for the accident and left the room, only to be ‘summoned’ back to apologise several more times.

The 56-year-old, who worked for the Stunts for a year, was left ‘humiliated and embarrassed’ after Petra accused him of smiling during his apology.

'Abused': The Stunt family's ex-butler, Cark Hajik, who is suing is former employer

Hajik says that as he left the room to retreat to the servant’s quarters, he exclaimed: ‘I don’t know what more you want me to say.’ It was at this point, the lawsuit alleges, that Stunt followed Hajik into the staff room to ‘spit in his face’ and bawled: ‘No one slams doors in my house!’

Hajik claims Stunt assaulted him by pushing his shoulders and face into a wall and water cooler.

Stunt then allegedly launched into a tirade of homophobic insults, calling Hajik ‘soft around the edges’ and ‘a lady hater’, adding that he ‘should be wearing a dress’.

Stunt only stopped the abuse, the suit claims, after Rutland put a hand on him and said: ‘That’s enough, James.’ Hajik resigned on the spot.

 

A spokesman for Stunt said the claim was ‘without merit and would be vigorously defended.’ He said Stunt ‘has instructed his US attorney to defend the claim in full and to counter-sue.’

Hajik is suing for battery and sexual orientation harassment and discrimination, and claims compensation for unpaid overtime, a lack of proper meal and rest breaks and unpaid wages. The documents say he wants ‘way over $25,000’.

Stunt and his wife were sued last year by another butler, Rodney Baer, 47, for unpaid overtime and wages. Baer also claimed that he was not given legally required rest and meal breaks. His lawsuit has now been transferred into an arbitration which is yet to take place. It is understood the Stunts deny all the allegations.



Tamara Ecclestone with her husband Jay Rutland and child Sophia, who butler Carl Hajik accidentally tripped over during a family meal. The accident allegedly sparked the furious abuse at the LA mansion

Source: UK Dailymail