October 28, 2013, Royal Oak, Michigan -- A class action lawsuit has been filed in Federal Court in Detroit by three current and former exotic dancers against several Detroit adult night clubs, including The Coliseum, Flight Club and Penthouse Club. The suit names club owner Alan Markovitz for intentionally misclassifying exotic dancers and other night club employees as independent contractors instead of employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Michigan Minimum Wage Law, refusing to pay statutory minimum wages, unlawfully demanding a portion of gratuities and unlawfully deducting employee wages through rents, fines and penalties. Lead counsel for the plaintiffs, Megan Bonanni of Pitt McGehee Palmer Rivers & Golden (www.pittlawpc.com), says her clients are seeking an unspecified amount for damages, back pay, restitution, injunctive and declaratory relief and attorneys fees. "The dancers are bringing this action on behalf of themselves and the other members of the proposed class of night club employees who were intentionally misclassified as independent contractors despite the fact that they were treated as employees. This is an illegal pay scheme designed to increase the nightclub's profit margins at the expense of basic employee rights." said Bonanni. This class of plaintiffs includes the dancers and nightclub employees such as waitresses, shot girls and others who worked in the Markovitz-owned establishments and were misclassified by the Defendants as independent contractors. In addition to failing to pay employees wages, the night clubs illegally collected a portion of dancers' tips through rents and fines, forcing them to pay "tip-outs" to bouncers, disc jockeys and other club employees. Co-counsel Kevin Stoops reports that numerous, other adult night clubs throughout the country have illegally classified exotic dancers as independent contractors to avoid paying actual wages, Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance. A recent Federal court ruling in New York ordered adult night club Rick's Cabaret to pay back wages to 1,900 exotic dancers who had worked there during the last three years. Similar lawsuits filed by dancers are pending throughout the country. Markovitz, who published an autobiography entitled "Topless Prophet," has been involved in the Detroit adult entertainment industry for decades. In the book, Markovitz writes about his introducing a "new model" in the industry which would have the "...dancers paying the club for the privilege of making an income on the premises, not as hourly wage earners, but as independent contractors." Bonanni says that as evidenced by the number of lawsuits across the country, misclassification of this type became a standard procedure at many of the largest and most successful adult night clubs in the country as a mechanism for the clubs to increase their profit margins. "Though strip clubs are some of the most common offenders, they are hardly the only industry that exploits the 'independent contractor' classification," said Stoops. He says the U.S. Department of Labor estimates about one-third of all businesses misclassify their employees in this manner. Information for current and former dancers at clubs owned by Markovitz is available at (Facebook page). Located in Royal Oak, Pitt McGehee Palmer Rivers & Golden is one of Michigan's leading law firms specializing in civil and workplace rights. Its attorneys represent clients in a broad range of actions, including sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, whistleblower issues and discrimination based on age, gender, disability, race, religion and national origin. For additional information visit www.pittlawpc.com Jesse Young of Sommers Schwartz is also serving as plaintiffs' co-counsel on the case. Sommers Schwartz, P.C., a law firm located in Southfield, Michigan, represents individuals in Michigan and across the country who have been harmed as a result of medical errors, defective products, loss of employment, and other forms of negligence or intentional injury, as well as businesses involved in complex litigation matters that jeopardize their existence. Additional information about Sommers Schwartz can be found on its website: http://www.sommerspc.com.
dBusiness: Michael Pitt Named Champion of Justice by State Bar.
ROYAL OAK — Michael Pitt, of Pitt, McGehee, Palmer & Rivers, has been selected by the State Bar of Michigan as a recipient of its 2014 Champion of Justice award.
The Champion of Justice award, one of the Bar Association’s most...
Pitt McGehee Event Celebrates 50th CRA Anniversary with Firm Event
On June 25 Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers welcomed over 100 guests for a unique celebration. The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Introduced by President Kennedy in 1963 on the heels of a series of...
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Recognized for Outstanding Pro Bono Legal Services by State Bar of Michigan
July 8, 2014, Royal Oak, Mich. – Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers has been named to the State Bar of Michigan’s 2014 Circle of Excellence at the Leadership level. This recognition is reserved for law firms whose attorneys have each contributed...
Megan Bonanni Featured in Legal News for Serving Justice on Behalf of New "Hero"
Civil rights attorney Megan Bonanni has a new “hero” in her life — a developmentally disabled client, a long-term employee in a blue-collar job who was brutally harassed by supervisors because of his disability.
“My client’s bravery and...
McGehee Featured in Legal News Story on Oakland County Trial
A breach of contract dispute was tried twice in Oakland County. At each trial, the jurors gave an award to the plaintiff. One was bigger, one was smaller. Each time, the attorneys asked that the jurors be polled following the verdict — the defense...
Bonanni Quoted In S.J. Mercury News Exotic Dancer Suit Story
Pitt McGehee Partner Megan Bonanni was interviewed by the San Jose Mercury News in a story relating to a lawsuit filed in California alleging systematic violations of the California Labor Code -- as 11 former Pink Poodle exotic dancers have taken...
DBusiness, O&E Cover McGehee Being Named to MSU College of Law Board of Directors
Cary McGehee, a partner with Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers, has been named to the board of trustees of Michigan State University College of Law. McGehee is listed in "Best Lawyers" in America and Michigan Super Lawyers, has been named "Trial...
Claybrook Discusses GM Cobalt Issues at Pitt Sponsored Lecture
[caption id="attachment_789" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dean Robb and Joan Claybrook[/caption]
At the Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers sponsored Dean Robb Lecture of the Public Justice Foundation at the Wayne State Law School, GM’s Cobalt...
Michael Pitt Featured in ICLE Monthly Mentor
In the latest "Monthly Mentor," the newsletter of ICLE, Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Michael Pitt was featured in a column entitled "What I Wish I Knew Then: Review Client Records Before Taking the Case."
Pitt share that experienced...
Bonanni Featured in Legal News Column on Exotic Dancer Suit
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Megan Bonanni was the subject of a recent Detroit Legal News "Asked and Answered" Column from the News' Steve Thorpe. In the column, Thorpe engaged in a detailed Q & A regarding Bonanni's collective...
Global Media Seeks Out Pitt During DeBoer-Rowse Trial
Michael Pitt, Partner with Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers, was a much sought after and much quoted participant in the recently concluded Detroit trial determining the fate of Michigan gays who want to marry. Pitt, who represents Oakland County...
Pitt Says Harm to Those Denied Gay Marriage is "Real"
Michael Pitt, Partner with Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers, was quoted in a recent edition of MLive covering the end of the trial in Detroit determining the fate of Michigan gays who want to marry. Pitt, who represents Oakland County Clerk Lisa...
WWJ Tabs McGehee to Speak About Juvenile Lifer Decision
The Michigan Supreme Court will make a decision on whether to give Juveniles already sentenced as a lifer a second chance at life. Michigan has roughly 360 inmates in prison for life who were convicted of first degree murder when they were just...
McGehee Led Freedom Tour Featured in Michigan Bar Journal
Last Summer, Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Cary McGehee took a group of Michigan High School students on a tour through Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi on behalf of the firm and the Michigan Coalition of Human Rights. Dubbed...
Pitt Continues Fight for Clerk During Michigan Gay Marriage Debate
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Michael Pitt's legal battle to gain justice for Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown's right to issue gay marriage licenses continues amidst the current April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse courtroom fight over Michigan's...
Carlson Published in Prestigious 'The Federal Lawyer Magazine'
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers attorney Kevin Carlson has been published in the prestigious The Federal Lawyer Magazine. The magazine serves as a source of legal updates and information for the Federal Bar Association, the premier bar association...
Palmer Named as 2014 'Leader in the Law'
Michigan Lawyers Weekly has chosen Pitt McGehee Rivers & Palmer Partner Robert Palmer as one of 30 lawyers in the state named to the “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2014.
Chosen from dozens of nominations, Palmer and 2014 Leaders were viewed...
Michael Pitt Tabbed for Presentations at OCBA, SBM, ICLE
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Michael Pitt has been a much in demand speaker during the first quarter of 2014.
On January 25, Pitt was asked to present to the State Bar of Michigan Winter Labor and Employment Conference where he...
McGehee Elected to MSU College of Law Board of Trustees
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Cary McGehee has been elected to the Michigan State University College of Law Board of Trustees.
Michigan State University College of Law is an independent, non-profit corporation. Its affairs are managed by...
McGehee Fights on Behalf of Woman Forced Out of Work Due to Pregnancy
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Michigan, along with Cary McGehee of the law firm Pitt McGehee Palmer Rivers & Golden, has filed an amended complaint in a federal lawsuit on behalf of a woman who was forced out of work after...