Herbalife Ex-Employee Files Harassment Suit

A lawsuit has been filed by a former employee of Herbalife International Inc., alleging that a former chief executive of the Century City-based maker of nutritional supplements subjected her to sexual harassment and battery.

Samantha Faulkner, according to the suit, rose from the post of executive assistant to Herbalife founder Mark R. Hughes in 1990 to executive vice president of corporate services in 1999 with a salary of $535,000. But, the suit alleged, her fortunes with the company took a severe turn after the death of Hughes in 2000.

Faulkner’s attorneys charge that she was subjected to verbal and physical harassment by former Herbalife Chief Executive Christopher Pair. They also allege an incident in which she was sexually assaulted and battered by Pair in 2001.

The lawsuit also names the company and Conrad Klein, executive vice president and chief business affairs officer, for, among other things, failing to stop the harassment.

Klein and Herbalife attorneys called the lawsuit frivolous and said that it was completely without merit or factual support. Pair, who left Herbalife in October, was unavailable for comment.