Actor Rob Lowe sues his ex-nanny

Rob Lowe and his wife Sheryl have sued their former nanny.

The couple filed the case in Los Angeles and accused Laura Boyce of breaking a confidentiality agreement, defamation and inflicting emotional distress.

Boyce was hired by the couple to look after their two sons but quit in November last year, the complaint said.

Court papers claim that Boyce "betrayed their trust and engaged in a scheme to hurt the Lowes by spreading malicious lies" during and after the time she served as nanny for the couple.

In an article on the Huffington Post's website, Lowe wrote: "When people make false claims of harassment, particularly for financial gain, it must be defended vigorously and openly, for it weakens the claims of legitimate victims."

The actor added that Boyce was demanding 1.5 million by the end of the week otherwise she would accuse the couple of "a vicious laundry list of false terribles".

> Click here for our recent interview with Rob Lowe