Celebrity Justice
Jeans CEO Accused of Trying to Get in Employee's Pants

Rock and Republic clothing's CEO and lead designer, Michael Ball, is being sued by a former employee for sexual harassment.
Michael Ball, Rock and Republic
TMZ obtained the lawsuit, filed August 17 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, that claims in November of 2006, Nicole Baros interviewed with Ball to be his personal assistant. During the five-minute interview, Baros alleges Ball asked her if she "had a boyfriend." The lawsuit claims that during her first month of employment, Ball made unwanted sexual advances towards her, such as "touching her hair, and continually staring at Baros' breasts and butt," and one point told her he wanted to "sleep with her."

The lawsuit also alleges at the company Christmas party Ball "cornered Baros in a room and attempted to kiss her ... then proceeded to stick his hand down plaintiff's pants." Later that month, she says she went to Ball's home to have him sign company checks and he answered the door in his underwear. She then says he chased her "around his apartment, grabbed her and threw her on his bed."

In the end, Baros claims she was not selected to go to Fashion Week in New York City, and was "let go and was told that there was not enough work for her."

Rock and Republic clothing has adorned the backsides of celebrities like Carmen Electra, Kate Winslet and Avril Lavigne.

A rep for the fashion line did not return our call for comment.

Tags: Michael Ball, MichaelBall, Rock and Republic, RockAndRepublic

Reader Comments

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1. Second.

And who gives a flying f*** about this stupid story?!?!?!

Posted at 6:24PM on Aug 27th 2007 by Piglet Baldwin

2. This is so wrong but I was actually getting hot there for a minute reading that.

Posted at 6:25PM on Aug 27th 2007 by SayWhat

3. He can sexually abuse me anytime!

Posted at 6:26PM on Aug 27th 2007 by Tam

4. Hey, Tam-

I hear that. I should be so lucky that he would sexually harass me.

Posted at 6:35PM on Aug 27th 2007 by Kris Peterson

5. Girl get a life and a job if you didn't want the kiss then why go to his HOME so he could do it again and you showed up wearing what ???????????????????????? OH MY GOD I COULDNT GO TO FASHION WEEK I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO IF I DIDN'T LIKE THE ADVANCES?, AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE DRESSSING ROOM ? MORE UNWANTED ATTENTION WE ALL KNOW U ARE SUEING FOR M-O-N-E-Y ! S you could take your own self to fashion week ? HE PROBABLY THOUGHT YOU WERE INTERESTED IN HIM ???????????????????? CAUSE LADY U KEPT COMING BACK ????????????????????????? And if you weren't interested in him why would someone that has worked all his life go and make a mistake like that ??????????? You blew it the guy actually is a good looking guy don't you think he could have any single girl out there ?????????? he look's both charming and hansome if he knew it would come to this he would never had made a advance to you ?????????????????????? how do you know maybe he thought you could be together and get married and work together ?????????????? YOU BLEW IT ADMIT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 6:59PM on Aug 27th 2007 by sherry

6. he's hot!!!

Posted at 6:47PM on Aug 27th 2007 by diane

7. Did I read this correctly, A STRAIGHT LEAD DESIGNER? Not very likely.

Posted at 6:58PM on Aug 27th 2007 by j-j

8. Ok. Let me get this straight.

To me, it appears that she was cool the 'boyfriend question' at the interview because she took the job. And then cool with the butt-and-breast-staring-thing one month into said new job. And after those events, she just had to be cool about the hand-in-her-pants/kissing-attempt at the company Christmas party. Because after all of that crap, she was totally cool about entering his private home (alone) just to have some checks signed. EVEN THOUGH he came to the door in his underwear and EVEN THOUGH he previously made advances on her, and previously stared at her butt and breasts, and previously attempted to kiss her, and previously tried to place his hand where it didn't belong.

Because after all....had she NOT been cool about all of these previous events...well, y'know...she wouldn't have willingly gone to his home to have the stupid checks signed. Maybe she just tolerates lots of stuff and is a very patient person. Pffft.

Posted at 10:51AM on Aug 28th 2007 by Take off, eh?

9. The amazing thing about this story is that he is a designer and he is sexually harrassing WOMEN, not MEN. Another stereotype shot to h*e*ll.

Posted at 6:54PM on Aug 27th 2007 by WTF???

10. That's a crappily written and defectively-served complaint. I hope it wasn't the final draft.

Posted at 6:56PM on Aug 27th 2007 by sat

11. If true, he is obviously out of line. But just a tip, if someone (boss or otherwise) is making it known that he/she wants to get to know you in the biblical sense, YOU DON'T GO OVER TO HIS APARTMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stupid!

Posted at 6:59PM on Aug 27th 2007 by Get a Brain

12. And was he wearing magic underwear that got her into the apartment after he opened the door and she saw that he was IN HIS UNDERWEAR????? I love this story!

Posted at 7:03PM on Aug 27th 2007 by SayWhat

13. He is really good looking. Obviously, I have nothing better to do at the moment.

Posted at 7:13PM on Aug 27th 2007 by SayWhat

14. Look at him!!!! He can throw me on a bed anytime he wants!

Posted at 7:16PM on Aug 27th 2007 by Erin

15. Baller!

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Posted at 7:16PM on Aug 27th 2007 by scott

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