Casey Affleck: The Sexual Harasser Within?

Producer on his Joaquin Phoenix doc sues, accuses Ben's little bro of inappropriate behavior

UPDATE: Affleck attorney Martin Singer filed a motion to compel arbitration stating that the plaintiff, Amanda White, previously signed an agreement with Flemmy Productions that any future dispute could be determined "solely by arbitration."
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Maybe Casey Affleck is looking to quit acting for a while, too.

One of the producers on the "Joaquin Phoenix tries hip-hop" documentary the actor's been working on has sued Affleck for $2 million, claiming he refused to pay her after she refused to spend the night in a hotel with him.

Affleck—who denies all—is married to Phoenix's little sister, Summer, and they have two sons.

In the lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Amanda White alleges that she endured "uninvited and unwelcome sexual advances in the workplace" throughout the making of I'm Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix, which, incidentally, just recently found a distributor.

"Affleck repeatedly referred to women as 'cows'; he discussed his sexual exploits and those of other celebrities that he allegedly witnessed; and asked [White], after learning her age, 'Isn't it about time you get pregnant?'" the suit states.

White also claims that, while shooting in Costa Rica, she was unable to go to her hotel room one night because Phoenix and Affleck were in there with two women.

While filming at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, White continues, Affleck hired prostitutes to be on set, but none of that footage ended up in the movie. She believes that Affleck employed the hookers "for his personal gratification," subjecting her and cinematographer Magdalena Gorka to the scene "for reasons having nothing to do with the purpose of the project."

Finally, White claims, when the production moved to San Francisco, Affleck tried to get her to share a hotel room with him. When she refused, the suit states, he "became hostile and aggressive" and "violently grabbed her arm in an effort to intimidate her into staying." After being slighted, he sent her "abusive" text messages.

Ultimately, Affleck refused to give White the $50,000 they had agreed on for her work on the film and, after she repeatedly complained and got nothing, she quit.

In response to the suit, attorney Michael J. Plonsker said in a statement to E! News on behalf of Affleck and codefendant Flemmy Productions that White's claims are "preposterous and without merit."

"Ms. White was terminated from the production over a year ago," Plonsker said. "She and her lawyers believe that this maliciously and erroneously filed complaint will cause the producers to succumb to her outrageous and baseless demands. She is mistaken. The complaint will be vigorously defended and cross-claims will be filed against her."

White is asking for at least $2 million in damages to cover sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to prevent harassment/retaliation, constructive discharge in violation of public policy, breach of oral contract, unjust enrichment, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

(Originally published July 23, 2010, at 4:15 p.m. PT)