By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Robert DeNiro’s ex-estate manager is suing the actor in federal court because of the way he was fired, the New York Post reported Thursday.
The ousted employee, Michael Thompson, says DeNiro and his wife promised him a “lengthy period of employment” before he was hired in November 2007, but then laid him off after his staff tarnished his reputation with false accusations, the paper said.
Thompson’s suit seeks damages for De Niro's allegedly accusing him of taking kickbacks and for missing work. He says the allegations cost him additional work when he lost another job, with the family of billionaire George Soros, the Post reported.
The lawsuit also accuses members of the trust company that owns De Niro’s 235-acre Ulster County estate, alleging breach of contract.
Thompson told the Post that he was promised that if his employment was terminated early, he would receive "ample severance pay."
Thompson also says that De Niro’s lawyer fired him after promising him a transition period, but didn’t follow through with the deal, the Post reported.
