Legal News

Networks agree to pay $4M to settle claims of underpaid employees of reality shows

By Jonathan Hayter

A group of television production companies and networks, including Fox Broadcasting Co., American Broadcasting Cos. Inc. and CBS Broadcasting Inc., have agreed to pay more than $4 million to settle allegations that they underpaid about 400 employees who worked on shows including "The Bachelor" and "Trading Spouses."

The settlements, which were preliminarily approved, resolve two class actions filed in 2005: Sharp v. Next Entertainment, No. BC336170 (Los Angeles Co., Calif., Sup. Ct.) and Shriver v. Rocket Science Laboratories, No. BC338746 (Los Angeles Co., Calif., Sup. Ct.). In one class action, Fox and Rocket Science Laboratories agreed to pay more than $2.5 million; in another, ABC, CBS and six other companies agreed to pay more than $1.5 million.

The lawsuits were filed on behalf of story development employees, such as editors and producers, who worked on 15 different reality television shows, including "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," "The Real Gilligan's Island," "Trading Spouses," "Joe Millionaire," "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé" and "Married by America." According to the complaints, the employees had worked 10 to 20 hours each day, six or seven days per week, without overtime compensation or meal and rest breaks.

Full story on NLJ.com.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on January 22, 2009 (boomark / email).