Stage Hand Sues Dick Clark Prods. Over Late Payments For American Music Awards

Production stage hand Charles Griffin has filed suit against Dick Clark Productions over late payment for services on the 36th Annual American Music Awards telecast. Griffin has also requested class-action status on behalf of other stagehands on the show. In the suit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Griffin says DCP hired him November 22, 2008 and discharged him “on or about” the same date after completion of work but did not issue payment until February 5, 2009. Griffin’s complaint alleges DCP “fails to devote sufficient resources to the accounting function with the result that such late payment of wages is customary rather than exceptional.” Griffin states in the suit that state law stipulates that any discharged employee is entitled to receive payment within the next pay period following the end of employment. Griffin asserts that DCP was up to two months late paying him and other employees and is seeking up to $400,000 in damages for all members of the class action.