DENVER – A woman who worked as Hunter S. Thompson's assistant for some 20 years has filed a lawsuit against his estate and defunct corporation, claiming she is owed more than $100,000 in wages.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in Pitkin County District Court, claims the journalist ("Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas") did not pay Deborah Fuller for work she did between 1983 and 1996.
The lawsuit says Thompson had financial problems at the time and repeatedly promised Fuller, verbally and in writing, that he would pay her when he could. The lawsuit said she was never paid.
Thompson, 67, shot himself on Feb. 20, 2005, in his home in Woody Creek outside Aspen, apparently despondent over health problems.
Fuller, who lives in St. Paul, Minn., worked for Thompson from 1983 to June 29, 2004.
One of Fuller's attorneys, Bruce Fowler, said Wednesday he could not comment.
Anita Thompson, the writer's widow and beneficiary of his estate, said she wasn't surprised by the lawsuit.
"I don't think she's going to get anywhere with it. These are not Hunter's intentions. These are things he would be very disappointed in," she said.
"Hopefully this whole thing will be over soon," she said.
In 2000, Thompson accidentally shot and slightly wounded Fuller when he fired at a bear on his property. No charges were filed.
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