Ex-Manager's Case Against Sandra Bernhard Moves Ahead in Court

In an exclusive to the British tabloid The Daily Mail, it is reported that comedienne and actress Sandra Bernhard has lost her attempt to throw out a lawsuit filed by her former manager, James Sliman.

The 68-year old Bernhard "filed an application in Kings County Supreme Court in Brooklyn, New York, on October 10 to have the case dismissed or sent to arbitration on October 31 'or as soon thereafter',"writes the Daily Mail.

Instead hearings have been set for February 6 next year to continue the case.

Sliman says this was a good sign, telling DailyMail.com: 'When the court does not grant what they want but set a date for February, it means this has to be discussed.

In their ruling, the court will not be either be dismissing the case or sending it to arbitration.

In his initial filing in August, the 66-year old Sliman claims that Bernhard "used phony invoices to bump up interview payments and cheat charities plus scammed venues out of their cut of merchandising sales at her live events," reports the DM. Her representatives told the tabloid that she "did not have any comment."

"Never once have they ever addressed any of the specific complaints in my filing. They haven't acknowledged them," Sliman says of the documents Bernhard's lawyers have filed.

"She hasn't denied anything, she hasn't denied one thing," says Sliman.

"There is a line in one of their documents where her lawyers say everything Mr. Sliman says is false and defamatory. But it's not false and defamatory. If it's defamatory, why haven't they sued me for defamation?"

Bernhard lawyers are saying that Sliman accepted partial payment and signed a settlement agreement. He now says he did so "under duress" and "filed paperwork to nullify the deal.

"Their only argument so far is that none of the stuff in the lawsuit applies because of the settlement agreement that I signed to get that first chunk of money she owed me," he said.

"But twice I have notified the court and I filed a motion to have that settlement agreement invalidated."

In his paperwork, Sliman claims Bernhard had him perform "many unscrupulous, questionable and embarrassing things" as part of a "hostile" work environment.

He says he was fired by Bernhard in July after she "could not admit that her live shows were now selling poorly and her asking fees were too high".

In his paperwork, Sliman details Bernhard's numerous financial transgressions, telling the Daily Mail: "In dozens of instances, maybe hundreds, Miss Bernhard coerced me into sending phony invoices from her to charity organizations, LGBT charity organizations, television shows, documentary filmmakers etc.. who wanted to interview her. Whether or not she was already being paid a fee, she would insist I get them to also cover costs of her hair and make-up people. When they agreed, she would tell me to say it cost $1,000 when it was really only $2-300." Sliman says.

'I would send the invoices and she would pocket the money. This at times actually became a small way she could supplement her income. This from a woman who everyone knows is a multi-millionaire.'

Sliman began working for Bernhard as her publicist in 2013, but his role soon grew to include being her tour manager, personal assistant, travel agent, her personal collection agency on her payments due, and, a year into the job, manager of the live performance side of her career.
"She took extreme advantage of our business relationship and used me to do the work of up to four people", he adds.

Sliman also tells the court: "I continued to do many jobs for Miss Bernhard over this 10-11 year period and a great many people are aware of the integral part I played in her career at this time. But, just in the last few months, when I started speaking my mind and telling her I wasn't going to be a "yes man" she became very difficult to talk to and everything became an argument.

"When I started honestly discussing the obstacles I was now having with setting up continued live performances for her, she would blame everyone else and could not discuss that maybe the problem was her."

After filing his court papers in July, Sliman told DailyMail.com exclusively: "I feel used, very disappointed and hurt at what has happened. A little bit heartbroken.

"I'm not naïve, I've worked with celebrities my entire adult life. I know it is what it is."