Contact: Richard A. Sands, Ret. PI rsnsinternational@sob-csc.org or 734-771-7251

Email rsnsinternational@sob-csc.org or Call 734-771-7251 Richard A. Sands, Ret. PI

Sunday, April 17, 2011

$10 Million Settlement for Exotic Dancers a Not-So-Exotic Outcome in Wage Class Actions

Originally Posted by Holli Hartman on April 08, 2011
A class of exotic dancers in California and other states have received preliminary court approval of a $10 million settlement of their class action suit in which they claimed that their adult nightclub employers misclassified them as independent contractors.  Trauth v. Spearmint Rhino Companies Worldwide, Inc.pdf (Case No. 5:09-cv-01316) (C.D.Cal).
The Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor and many state labor departments also are looking to lay bare employers who they claim are misclassifying their workers.  In an effort to collect more employment tax revenue, over the next three years, the IRS plans to randomly select and audit up to 6,000 businesses that use contractors.  The DOL stated in its 2011-2016 strategic plan that it will partner with the IRS to root out employers who continue to misclassify employees as independent contractors. 
The government efforts likely will arouse the interest of workers eager to seek unpaid minimum wage and overtime pay through class action filings.
The Bottom Line:  An employer can be nakedly exposed to a wage and hour class action unless workers are properly classified.
http://www.employmentclassactionreport.com/flsa/10-million-settlement-for-exotic-dancers-a-not-so-exotic-outcome-in-wage-class-actions/

1 comment:

  1. Dancers are independent contractors because they are LUCKY, BLESSED, and privy to the same benefits as a small business owner would receive. Dancers are not the little guy on the totem pole. The net income FAR outweighs the gross income, so there is never any reason to complain of earning your own keep....unless you're a bitch, lazy, ugly, fat, uncoordinated, problematic, disrespectful, like being an employee 'slave' or have a problem with cold, hard, cash. Of course, I think these heifers from the class action against the Spearmint Rhino, as well as other clubs, were CIA operatives and are trying to take the most booming, truly capitalistic, customer satisfaction based work, and throw it to the dogs. Then what for dancers? Equal opportunity employment? ::Psh:: Don't be a punk! Take the money and run! Claim taxes. But don't let the SUPREME COURT take OUR FREEDOM.

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