Erica Herman, ex-girlfriend of Tiger Woods, has sued the golf superstar for $30 million, alleging that Woods forced her to sign a non-disclosure agreement about their sexual relationship or risk losing her job at his restaurant, something that for him ex-girlfriend’s lawyer qualifies as “sexual harassment”.
The non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was a previously known element of the lawsuit, but a state court filing on Friday in Florida explained Herman’s position on the key piece of evidence.
According to USA Today, Herman’s attorney, Benjamin Hodas, wrote: “Mr. Woods was Ms. Herman’s boss. By Mr. Woods’ own representation of the facts, he placed an NDA on her as a condition of keeping her job. when she began to have a sexual relationship with him. A boss who imposes different working conditions on his employee because of their sexual relationship commits sexual harassment,” he explained.
The Hodas document added: “Tiger Woods, the internationally renowned sportsman and one of the most powerful figures in world sport, decided to engage in a sexual relationship with his employee and then, according to him, forced her to sign an NDA about it. or else be fired from her job,” says the document filed by her lawyer. “And when he became disgusted with their sexual relationship, he tricked her into leaving her home, locked her out, took her money, her pets and personal possessions, and tried to force her to sign a different NDA.”
Friday’s filing also details Herman’s version of the events that led to Woods allegedly kicking her out of the home they share.
According to USA Today, Hodas’ court document stated: “The landlord conditioned the availability of his housing on his having a sexual relationship with a co-tenant. Such conduct amounts to sexual harassment under Florida and federal fair housing laws.”
“The brief summary of the events here and the defendant’s own linkage of the alleged agreement to his sexual motivations both at his job and at his home are enough to bring this case within the scope of the Forced Arbitration Termination Act.”
USA Today reported that it was unable to reach Woods’ attorney, J.B. Murray, for comment. Murray previously stated that Herman “was not a victim of sexual assault or abuse.”