MikeLigalig.com

ABS-CBN: Susana Danio, a Filipina maid from Pangasinan, recently won a legal battle in the United Kingdom over being unfairly dismissed by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, reports ABS-CBNNews.com. The London-born princess, heiress daughter of US duty-free billionaire Robert Miller, was ordered to pay Danio almost £7,500 (about P500,000).

Danio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."

Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."

Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.