Diana Jenkins Sued Ex-Assistant For Spying In Private Spaces — Staffer Claimed Hostile Work Conditions!

Diana Jenkins took a former employee to court after accusing him of being a “peeping tom,” three years ago. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills newbie sued the executive assistant, who was employed by her company, Neurobrands, in 2019, Radar Online reports. The reality star stated in the lawsuit that she hired Hannibal Thomas, in February 2016.

Thomas’ job was to organize Diana’s daily schedule and manage her workflow. The RHOBH star claimed that she suffered injury after his repeated “intrusions into her private affairs.” Diana said that Thomas routinely drove her back and forth from her Malibu home and worked by her side. She clarified that Thomas was never given permission to “enter or view into Jenkins’ private rooms, including her bedroom, bathroom, and other private rooms with Jenkins’ residence.”

Diana alleged that throughout his time working for her Thomas invaded her privacy by “entering and spying into her private living spaces without consent or authorization, often while Jenkins was undressing.” 

Thomas voluntarily resigned his position in April 2019.

Diana claimed that Thomas “intentionally and without consent entered into Jenkins’ private rooms without knocking in an attempt to catch glimpses of her, leer at her, and otherwise view her in private circumstances.”

Diana alleged that he “would appear” in her room as she was coming out of the shower or exiting her private bathroom. 

“Thomas knew he was not supposed to be in those areas, and had no reason to be there other than to spy on Jenkins while she was indisposed. Thomas’ conduct was deliberate and intentional, but when confronted about this conduct, Thomas would act as though he only “bumped” into her accidentally,” the suit read.

The Bravo star’s lawyer claimed—“At one point, Jenkins physically had to draw a line that Thomas was not allowed to cross, due to his persistent invasion of Jenkins’ privacy.”

Diana said that her ex-assistant’s betrayal of trust and “lewd and perverse intrusion” into her privacy caused her significant damage, “including emotional distress.”

Thomas, who denied all allegations of wrongdoing, called the legal action a “crass attempt” by Diana to “intimidate and retaliate against” him for “resisting her unlawful and discriminatory workplace actions.”

He alleged that his boss created a hostile work environment and that he was forced to work 24 hours a day for seven-day stretches. He said that he was not allowed proper rest breaks, meal breaks, overtime, and other appropriate protections. 

Thomas’ lawyer wrote—“[Jenkins] trusted [Thomas] enough to not only retain him as an employee for not just one job—but THREE JOBS—over the course of THREE YEARS, performing duties which would require him to be in her presence, around the clock. It is clear from the allegations that [Jenkins] suffered no emotional distress at all from the alleged behavior. Otherwise, would she not have terminated him?”

The case was dismissed in 2020. 

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm, ET, on Bravo.