You stealin’ from me? You stealin’ from me?
Robert De Niro’s production company is suing a former executive for $3 million — claiming the once-trusted employee raided company coffers and even stole De Niro’s frequent flyer miles while also binge-watching “astounding hours” of Netflix at work.
Chase Robinson began working as the “Taxi Driver” star’s personal assistant at his Canal Productions in 2008, eventually rising to the position of Vice President of Production & Finance, for which she netted a $300,000 salary, according to the suit.
But Robinson abruptly quit on April 6 when “suspicions arose” regarding her “honesty, integrity, work ethic and motivation,” the papers filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court on Saturday charge.
A review of the books, in wake of her leaving, found Robinson allegedly used the company’s American Express card to spend tens of thousands of dollars on lavish trips, floral arrangements, iPhones, Uber rides, a Louis Vuitton handbag, dogsitters and pricey dinners.
She also allegedly used 3 million of De Niro’s frequent flyer miles for personal trips and vacations while transferring 5 million to her personal account — estimated to be valued at $125,000 in total.
Because of her senior role within the company, Robinson was also able to approve her own expenses, including a bogus LA business trip in March 2018 that allegedly turned out to be for a friend’s birthday — racking up a $5,000 bill during the three-day trip, according to the suit.
Between May 2017 and this spring, Robinson also allegedly blew through $32,000 on personal Uber and taxi rides, $8,923 at expensive grocery stores near her Carnegie Hill home and $3,000 at a Lexington Ave. florist — including a $1,311 arrangement for her birthday.
She also used the company Amex to charge $12,696 for food and drink at posh Madison Ave. eatery Paola’s Restaurant during that same period, the suit claims.
“This lawsuit seeks economic damages from a disloyal employee who, despite being in a trusted position, repeatedly and methodically abused her position to misappropriate her employer’s funds and property for her personal gain,” the filing reads.
The “Taxi Driver” star, 76, has become a regular at the Manhattan Supreme Court where he is also locked in a bitter divorce battle over his alleged half-billion dollar fortune with estranged wife, Grace Hightower.
Canal Productions also claims Robinson “loafed during work hours, binge-watching astounding hours of TV shows on Netflix” and redeemed pay for 96 days of “unused” vacation — that she actually took — worth $70,000 in pay.
“A review of Canal’s Netflix account, to which she had access, indicated Robinson spent astronomical amounts of time accessing these shows, not only on weekends and holidays,” the papers charge.
Robinson allegedly watched 20 episodes of “Arrested Development” and 10 episodes of “Schitt’s Creek” during four of five workdays between Monday, March 25 and Friday, March 29 — the week before she resigned.
She also reportedly accessed 55 episodes of ‘Friends’ between Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 11.
The suit is seeking $3 million worth of damages, including repayment of all cash, goods and frequent flyer miles.
