Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is seeking legal action against her former personal assistant.
According to BBC News, J.K. Rowling is suing former employee Amanda Donaldson for £24,000.
A spokesperson for Rowling confirmed the news saying that the author “has taken legal action against her former personal assistant, Amanda Donaldson, following her dismissal for gross misconduct involving a substantial breach of trust.”
The legal claim states that Rowling is suing the 35-year-old from Coatbridge, Lankanshire for using the author’s funds to make personal purchases.
The legal papers submitted to Airdrie Sheriff Court state that Rowling’s former personal assistant spent a total of £23,696.32 on a business credit card and additionally took valuable Harry Potter merchandise.
During her time working for Rowling, Donaldson was given a credit card to use for purchasing items relating to business and personal affairs.
As part of her duties, Donaldson was also required to submit statements and receipts once a month to accountants. The fact that Donaldson was allegedly using the business credit card to make personal purchases was discovered in February of last year when the statements showed discrepancies.
According to the paperwork submitted by Rowling and her team, Donaldson made a variety of unauthorized personal purchases including spending £1,482 at luxury candle company Jo Malone, £3,629 in cosmetic firm Molton Brown, and $1,636 at Starbucks.
Stolen Harry Potter merchandise allegedly taken by Donaldson during her time working for Rowling from February 2014 to April 2017 include: a motorized Hogwarts Express (£467.56), a Harry Potter Wizard collection (£2231.76), and a Tales of Beedle the Bard set (£395).
In addition, the lawsuit also claims that Donaldson, who had access to a safe containing foreign currency, took £7,742-worth in money from the aforementioned safe.
Donaldson has since denied the claims, saying that the Fantastic Beasts scribe has “not suffered any loss and is not entitled to damages” from her.