For the first sexual harassment lawsuit against Casey Affleck, filed by a woman who claims to be an uncredited producer on the Joaquin Phoenix documentary, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and consider that it could be a case of professional differences. The woman claimed that Affleck failed to pay her the $50,000 fee they verbally agreed on, and it’s possible the sexual harassment allegations were thrown in there for leverage. There were also stipulations that the lawsuit was filed for publicity ahead of the film. After all, the whole construct of the “documentary” (Hollywood star goes crazy and embarks on an ill advised rap career) seemed like a put on. Given how well Joaquin has since “recovered,” it’s up to question whether his breakdown was legitimate or some kind of stupid social experiment, especially considering that a film was made out of it.

Now another lawsuit has been filed against Casey by a female collaborator on the film who also claims to have been accosted for sex, subjected to verbal abuse and ultimately gone without pay. The whole scenario sounds just like the last woman alleged in her lawsuit and like a pattern of disgusting behavior by Casey. Here’s more, including the allegation that Casey crawled drunk into bed with her. She left the project the next day, only to return when another woman was hired and to be subjected to the same ongoing harassment (allegedly):

According to the new Gorka lawsuit, when production on “I’m Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix” began in New York in mid-December, she was the only woman on the team. Phoenix and Affleck, who is married to Phoenix’s sister, decided that the crew would stay at Phoenix’s apartment instead of at a hotel. Phoenix allegedly told Gorka she could sleep in his bedroom and he would sleep on the couch.

“During the middle of the night, [Gorka] awoke to find Affleck lying in the bed next to her,” the lawsuit alleges. “Unbeknownst to [Gorka], Affleck had entered the bedroom while she was asleep and crawled into the bed. When she woke up, Affleck was curled up next to her in the bed wearing only his underwear and a t-shirt. He had his arm around her, was caressing her back, his face was within inches of hers and his breath reeked of alcohol.”

Gorka says she was shocked because she didn’t know how long Affleck had been there or where she had been touched. She says she immediately told him to get out of bed. “Affleck responded by asking ‘Why?,'” according to the lawsuit. “[Gorka] said ‘because you are married and because you are my boss.’ Affleck, undeterred, asked if [Gorka] ‘was sure.’ [Gorka] said she was sure and insisted that he leave the room. He left and slammed the door in anger.”

According to the complaint, Gorka confronted Affleck the morning after the incident, then got on a plane for Los Angeles, consulted with her agent and left the project. Unable to find work, however, she says she returned several weeks later once a female producer, White, had joined the project and assured her she would be present.

But the lawsuit says the abuse continued. “[Gorka] was berated and verbally attacked by Affleck after she refused his sexual advances in New York, and was criticized constantly for refusing to be submissive in response to his rants and derisive comments,” the complaint says.

Gorka says she ultimately left the project again, after which Affleck allegedly refused to honor their oral agreement that she would be paid a $300 per-day fee and a deferred $700-a-day fee when the film sold to a distributor (Magnolia bought the film in July and plans to release it in the fall). She says she’s also been stripped of her “director of photography” credit…

Reached for comment, Gorka attorney Brian Procel says the decision to file the lawsuit was not easy for his client.

“In her 16 years of working in the entertainment industry she has never accused anyone of sexual harassment,” Procel says. “Ms. Gorka knows there will be repercussions, and that she will be exposed to attacks mounted by Affleck’s high-paid publicists and ‘bulldog’ attorneys. She ultimately decided that the truth needs to come out. We look forward to our day in court.”

The Gorka complaint alleges causes of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress, constructive discharge in violation of public policy, breach of oral contract, negligent infliction of emotional distress, unjust enrichment and negligence.

Gorka is represented by Procel, Skip Miller and Mira Hashmall at L.A.’s Miller Barondess firm, which also represents White. Defendants are Affleck and Flemmy Prods.

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

I like how the lawyer explains that his client will be similarly attacked by Casey’s people and that she filed the lawsuit despite that. It all sounds so seedy and typical, and while I don’t know much about Casey I never had the impression he was like that. I wonder what he’s telling his wife and if he’s trying to portray it as a case of sour grapes. For the first incident that might be believable, but now that another co-worker is suing him it’s not looking good.