Ex-employee sues Shaquille O'Neal

MIAMI, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- A former employee of Shaquille O'Neal who sided with O'Neal's ex-wife in a contentious divorce says the retired NBA star tried to frame him for pornography.

In a lawsuit, Shawn Darling alleges O'Neal enlisted friends who were current or former members of law enforcement in Florida to hack into his computer and leave images of child pornography, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Wednesday.

Darling, who was employed by O'Neal between 2007 and 2009 as a technology expert, is seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and civil racketeering.

Darling is seeking damages of more than $45,000.

O'Neal called on his law enforcement friends, the lawsuit says, to "frame [Darling] for possession of child pornography, have his house stormed by police, have him arrested for it, and have his computers confiscated while he is hauled off to jail as an accused child pornographer."

Darling, 41, who lives in Miami-Dade County, alleges O'Neal used his power and influence to intimidate and frighten him after he testified in favor of O'Neal's ex-wife, Shaunie.