Lawsuits: Kate Hudson vs. Ex-Aide

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/22/2001 at 08:26 AM EDT

A former personal assistant sued last week by "Almost Famous" actress Kate Hudson, 22, for allegedly embezzling $63,000 is planning to counter-sue the film star for wrongful termination and defamation, her lawyer said on Tuesday. "We're going to file a cross-complaint against these people," attorney Arthur Barens, representing the former aide Margaret Miller, told Reuters. "We will deny the allegations as not true and not supported by the facts. It's my client to whom they are indebted for a considerable amount of overtime wages." Hudson claims in her legal papers that Miller, 25, who worked for Hudson for two years before being fired last March, misused access to the actress' charge and bank accounts and spent the $63,000 on limos, hotel rooms, clothes, plane tickets and other personal expenses. Hudson seeks restitution and damages from Miller, who is now working as a legal secretary. Barens said Hudson's lawsuit remains "inexplicable" to Miller because a business manager (who demanded receipts from his client) paid all of the allegedly embezzled expenses. A spokesman for Hudson said: "(Hudson's) lawsuit speaks for itself. We will have no additional comment."