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Celine Dion ex-employee turned down payout

Jun 29, 2012, 4:01 GMT

Celine Dion is being sued by an ex-employee

Celine Dion says an ex-employee who is suing her turned down a $10,000 payout when he was fired.

Keith Sturtevant - a former 'warehouse manager' for Celine and her husband -filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was never paid overtime even though he regularly worked more than 40 hours per week during more than three years of service.

A representative for Celine told website TMZ.com: '[Keith was] paid a handsome yearly salary that covered overtime for his services for three years.'

In his lawsuit, the prosecutor claimed he originally made about $50,000 per year but eventually got a raise to $63,000 per year.

The spokesperson also claimed he turned down a good severance package, holiday pay and $10,000 when he was fired in May.

He was apparently let go due to poor performance.

Shortly before the case opened, Celine started recording her new album.

The 'My Heart Will Go On' singer - who was forced to cancel many of her Las Vegas residency shows earlier because of a virus - had been put on vocal rest but doctors gave her the all-clear to go back into studio.