Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn sued for firing army reservist chef

In a lawsuit filed in December 2024, Hermie Fajardo, a former personal chef of filmmaker Woody Allen and his wife Soon-Yi Previn, claims wrongful termination after being fired shortly after returning from a mandatory training session with the U.S. Army Reserves. Fajardo, hired in June 2024, had initially been offered a salary of $85,000. He asserts his termination was a direct result of his military service obligations and complaints regarding unpaid wages and tax withholding issues. Following his hiring, Fajardo experienced various payroll problems, including inadequate tax withholding and being underpaid by $300 during a pay period coinciding with his military training. Fajardo alleges that upon returning to work, he faced hostility from his employers, who claimed dissatisfaction with his cooking, a characterization Fajardo disputes. He had been praised for his culinary skills when hired, and the complaint notes that he only learned of dissatisfaction with his cooking after being fired. The complaint also details that Fajardo's service in the Army Reserves was well-known to Allen and Previn at hiring, and they had assured him that taking time off for military obligations would not affect his employment status. However, they allegedly terminated him immediately upon learning he would return a day late due to an extended training session. The lawsuit illustrates potential violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, New York labor law, and points out the emotional distress caused to Fajardo due to the abrupt termination linked to his military service and remuneration complaints. Fajardo’s actions have stirred discussion about the protection of military reservists in employment, especially concerning potential discrimination arising out of their service commitments. The firm representing Fajardo, Joseph & Norinsberg LLC, has alleged a pattern of evasive employment practices, claiming reliance on circumventing federal and state tax codes and labor laws during Fajardo's employment. His situation brings attention to the rights of employees balancing military service with civilian jobs and the accountability employers have in respecting these rights. Amidst this legal battle, the public awaits further responses from Allen and Previn, whose silence in this matter adds to the scrutiny over their treatment of Fajardo as an employee and military reservist.