Harassment Claim Filed Against Marlon Brando’s Estate

Marlon Brando’s former business manager filed a $3.5-million claim against the Oscar-winning actor’s estate Thursday, alleging that he had sexually harassed her throughout her employment and breached their contract when he removed her as a co-executor of his will, just days before his death.

The claim, submitted by attorneys for Jo An Corrales of Kalama, Wash., states that Brando “caused a hostile work environment due to his continuous acts of sexual harassment” toward Corrales and that the harassment continued throughout the course of her employment, which began in December 2000 and ended about March 8 of this year.

No further details of the harassment allegation were contained in the claim filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Corrales is one of a number of people or companies that have submitted claims against the estate after the legendary actor died of lung failure July 1 in Los Angeles. He was 80.

Brando’s will named nine children as beneficiaries. The trustees, who include Hollywood producer Mike Medavoy, must still sort out which claims will be accepted or rejected.

One claim has been submitted by Brando’s caretaker, Angela Borlaza Magaling, who is seeking title to a 1992 Lexus, severance pay and a house that Brando bought in the San Fernando Valley.

Her attorney, Richard Lewis of Woodland Hills, said of the house: “It was my understanding it was just a matter that [Brando] didn’t get around to transferring title.”

Another claim was filed by Air Moorea, a Tahiti-based airline. Attorney Barry Leigh Weissman of Santa Monica said the airline was seeking about $500,000 for flying tourists to Brando’s island resort in the South Pacific.

Corrales’ claim contends that under her contract with Brando, she was to receive $5,000 a month plus 10% of all residuals, which the claim estimates totaled $500,000.

“She was to get 10% of any revenues she recovered on his behalf,” said attorney Joel Pipes, an associate of Corrales’ Newport Beach attorney, Peter J. Linden. Pipes said Corrales was also to receive fees for being a trustee and an executor.

Meanwhile, Brando’s former longtime personal assistant, Alice Marchak, has asked the probate judge to determine ownership of certain property or personal effects she wants, including proceeds from the sale of a Newport Beach house, one of three bungalows Brando purchased in Bora Bora, and various movie scripts, journals and personal letters. The value of these items, the claim states, adds up to more than $1 million.

Marchak, whose friendship and business relationship with Brando spanned 50 years, was named co-executor of Brando’s Aug. 28, 2002, will. But the actor removed her and Corrales as executors about two weeks before he died.

Neither Medavoy nor attorneys for the estate could be reached for comment Thursday.