Rosie O'Donnell Sued by Three Bodyguards for Bugging Her Home

TBO.com ^ | 9/08/01 | AP

[kattracks]

MIAMI (AP) - Three former bodyguards sued television talk show host Rosie O'Donnell this week, saying she recorded their conversations without their knowledge in her Star Island mansion.

Bodyguards Steven Rubino, Chris Delia and Ted Van Rijn said they were fired when they confronted O'Donnell about the monitoring of the room they used as an office. They filed a lawsuit Thursday in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.

Florida law prohibits audio recording of people without their consent. But the law may apply differently to homesteads, where it is common to monitor nurseries and nannies, said Michael Fischl, a law professor at the University of Miami specializing in labor and employment law.

It is usually "the right of the king of the castle to know what is going on in his own house," Fischl said.

O'Donnell's publicist, Jennifer Glasek, said the TV star "denies any wrongdoing, and she's looking forward to vigorously denying this claim in court."

She explained that O'Donnell gave the bodyguards an affidavit stating she did not know the guards were being monitored and Kroll Associates Inc., a security company, was responsible for installing the device.

The guards are also suing the security company.

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

Any guesses as to what was on the tapes? Probably nothing very flattering to her royal hind-endness, that's for sure...

[doodlebug]

Has anyone performed a search of the archives or the web on any statements Rosie may have made concerning Linda Tripp taping Monica Lewinsky?

[Sparkboy]

her royal hind-endness,

That's covering a lot of territory.

[Thinkin' Gal]

they were fired when they confronted O'Donnell about the monitoring of the room they used as an office.

Ewww, Rosie was the proverbial fly on the wall.

[TheLion]

Some jerks going after deep pockets.

[All-American Medic]

Im not defending fat a$$, but she is the employer of these folks bugging her own premises while they were on duty, I dont see this any differently than a store using security cameras, or parents videotaping a nanny. Maybe they were fired for refusing to allow themselves to be taped any further after they gained knowledge of the previous taping.

[LarryLied]

Perhaps she simple disgusts them and that is their motive.

[opinionator]

Just imagine all the weapons that must be on the O'Donnell premises.

[JudyB1938]

Her royal hind-endness? ROFL That's funny!

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Can I sue Rosie O'Donnell? She has been bugging me for years.

[gatex]

"Some jerks going after deep pockets."

What do you call a Rosie that said that all gun owners should be put in prison ?

[doodlebug]

bttt