STAR ROB LOWE SUING OVER BLACKMAIL

Hollywood star Rob Lowe does not want to file a criminal complaint against a former employee who is allegedly trying to blackmail him, because he wants to deal with the issue in a "civil" manner.The actor claims his ex-nanny Jessica Gibson, who has worked for the Lowe family several times in the last seven years, demanded he and his wife, Sheryl, pay her $1.5 million by the end of this week, or she will go to the media with allegations of harassment. Lowe subsequently went public with the alleged extortion, calling it "an attempt to damage and humiliate not only my wife and me, but our two young sons as well."According to legal papers filed by Lowe at Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, Gibson told friends she had "a personal and intimate relationship (with Lowe) and, in effect, accusing Rob Lowe of infidelity."The 44-year-old is now suing Gibson for violating a confidentiality agreement, defamation and infliction of emotional distress. However, it has been revealed that Lowe declined police intervention in the bribery claims, and wanted to deal with it on his own. Deputy Alex Tipolt, from California's Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department, told E! News on Tuesday, "We spoke to Mr. Lowe and his attorney yesterday and they told us, at this time, they are going to handle this as a civil matter."Tipolt added the police will not be looking to launch their own investigation either: "Without the co-operation of the victim, it makes that a little difficult. And we don't even know the exact facts of what transpired."Meanwhile, Lowe has filed a similar suit against another ex-nanny, Laura Boyce, as well as his former chef, who he has accused of inviting "third parties" back to his home and having sex in his bed.
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