Assistant sues Brando over loan

Brando has won two Oscars

Actor Marlon Brando is being sued by his former personal assistant for allegedly forcing her to re-pay $185,000 (£113,775) she claims was a gift.

Court documents in Los Angeles show Caroline Barrett, who worked for the star for 25 years, says Brando gave her the money to buy a home in London.

She claims the Streetcar Named Desire star repeatedly told her did not want to be repaid but asked for it back only when she retired.

As well as a close working relationship, Brando,79, also adopted Ms Barrett's daughter Petra in 1981.

Her lawyer, Gary Raskin, says the actor is punishing her for leaving his service after such a long time.

Ms Barrett says Brando asked her to move to London in 1985 for business reasons and gave her the money to buy a house there "so Petra could have roots".

She added that Brando had repeatedly assured her the money was a gift, although paperwork would have to show it was a loan for tax purposes.

Warning

Ms Barrett returned to the US in 1990 and remained an employee of Brando until 2001.

The lawsuit says that after she retired Brando asked her to return to her position on several occasions.

She refused to go back and in September she was warned by Brando's lawyers that she had defaulted on the loan and her house in LA was at risk.

Mr Raskin said: "This was dormant for many years," he said. "It is sad we had to file a lawsuit."

Ms Barrett is seeking a court order preventing her former boss from demanding the money back or taking her home. on the loan or taking her Los Angeles home.

Brando was sued last yearby his former maid who was claiming $100m (£61.5m) child maintenance, alleging he was the father of three of her children.