Lawsuit claims Santanas asked worker to calibrate consciousness

Thursday, August 18th 2005, 12:16 pm

By: News On 6

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) _ A former personal assistant to Carlos Santana has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the veteran rocker, claiming he was fired after his consciousness was calibrated and determined to be too low.

Bruce Kuhlman, 59, charges that Santana's wife, Deborah, brought in a man known as ``Dr. Dan'' so employees could grow closer to God and become better workers.

``In Deborah's view, the higher a person calibrated with Dr. Dan, the better employee they were because they were more `spiritually evolved,''' the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit, filed in Marin Superior Court, alleges that ``spiritual calibration'' allowed a person to develop a deeper level of consciousness.

Kuhlman is seeking monetary damages for lost wages, emotional distress and unpaid overtime, among other demands.

A spokesman for the 58-year-old guitarist, whose albums include ``Supernatural,'' and his wife said the couple wouldn't comment on the lawsuit but will fight the case.

Kuhlman had signed an employee manual agreeing to arbitrate disputes, but Superior Court Judge John Sutro said the case could proceed regardless. An Oct. 12 court date has been set.