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Paul Deen enterprises hit with sexual harassment lawsuit

Posted at 5:24 PM, Mar 05, 2012
and last updated 2012-03-05 17:24:51-05

More trouble for Southern cooking queen Paula Deen, who earlier this year fell under criticism for endorsing a diabetic drug.

The former general manager of a restaurant owned by Deen claims she was sexually harassed.

Lisa Jackson filed a lawsuit today. She worked for “Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House” in Savannah, Georgia. The restaurant is named after Deen’s brother, Earl “Bubba” Hiers.

Jackson claims during the five years she worked there, Hiers made sexual comments to her every day, and downloaded porn at work.

Jackson claims she wasn’t paid as much as her male counterparts.

The lawsuit also says Hiers and Deen made racially derogatory comments about African-American workers in the restaurant.

Jackson is white.

She says black workers were told to use the restroom in the back of the restaurant.

Jackson is seeking unspecified damages for severe emotional stress.

All content copyright of CNN, 2012.