The billionaire owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons hired a woman half his age to work on his private jet while the pair were “in a romantic relationship” — but she wasn’t qualified for the job, and she Reportedly forced two other stewardesses to work. Unpaid overtime to pick up the slack, according to an explosive lawsuit.
The family office of Arthur Blank — who made his fortune as co-founder of big-box retailer Home Depot before buying the Falcons for $545 million in 2002 — is being sued by two corporate flight attendants, Adele Pearson and Samantha Carlisle. is being done.
The pair allege that they were not paid overtime after working long, hard hours on Blank’s luxurious plane because the family office’s flight group was “a dysfunctional and poorly run business unit that fired incompetent employees simply because were hired and retained because they had sexual relationships with Blank or his supervisors,” the lawsuit claims.
According to the complaint filed Oct. 18 in Atlanta federal court, Blank, 82, who is divorced three times and has six children, was having an affair with Christy Buse, 42, who was hired as a flight attendant. Was. Mughal’s Family Office, AMBFO.
The complaint alleged that Buse “provided only limited assistance” because AMBFO “allowed him to join flights only when Blank was the only person traveling on the plane.” Reported by Business Insider And Law360.
As a result, flight attendants Pearson and Carlisle alleged that they were “regularly required to work more than 40 hours per week due to their heavy workload” because they were “regularly required” to cover up. Was done. [Buice’s] Drawbacks and handling the majority of flights for AMBFO.”
The two flight attendants also alleged that AMBFO kept another employee on the payroll who was “similarly incapable of performing her duties” while she was “in a romantic relationship with the aviation director.”
According to the lawsuit, that flight attendant was “grossly unqualified for her position” and her “hiring served only to increase Plaintiff’s workload, both by taking over her duties and attempting to familiarize her with company operations. Did.”
Pearson and Carlisle also allege that in addition to their flight-related duties, they “were required to perform various personal errands for Blank or her family members,” including handling dry cleaning and choosing restaurants or hotels.’
Blank, whose net worth was valued by forbes At $9.3 billion as of Monday, it did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Post also sought comment from Buse and the other two employees mentioned in the lawsuit.
Carlisle, who was hired by AMBFO in March 2022, told her bosses in July this year that she was leaving the job.
Pearson was hired until January 2021. His job status is unclear. When contacted by The Post, an attorney for Pearson declined to comment.
Two flight attendants, who alleged they worked “more than 70 hours per week and in some cases 90 hours per week”, said they complained they had “almost no personal time” and ” She could not continue to work “the number of hours that AMBFO regularly requires her to work.”
According to the lawsuit, Pearson and Carlisle were paid annual salaries of $160,000 and “approximately $158,000” respectively last year, and worked 26 days a month for several months.
Two flight attendants accused AMBFO of keeping “false time records” that showed they both received eight days off a month. She alleged that while on vacation she was “bombarded” with text messages and phone calls from Blank’s family office about travel plans.
Data from JetSpy shows that he owns two private jets – a Bombardier Global Express and a Bombardier Global 7500.
