A judge Monday gave attorneys until late May to file court papers seeking preliminary approval of a settlement brought by a former “American Idol” participant who sued the production companies behind the show, alleging that she and other contestants had to work 15-hour days with little to no breaks.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff issued the order during a status conference 10 days after the lawyers informed the judge they had reached a settlement “in principle” of plaintiff Normandy Vamos’ case. Riff ordered that court papers seeking preliminary approval of the settlement be filed by May 28.
Vamos sued ABC, American Idol Productions Inc., Fremantlemedia North America Inc., Industrial Media Inc. and 19 Entertainment in February 2023.
Vamos said she and the other proposed class members were purposely misclassified in their work status so as to deny them work protections and avoid paying them proper minimum wage, meal and rest break reimbursements and overtime, all of which are due those workers deemed employees.
Vamos further contended that they had to sign contracts agreeing that the performances of their songs and any acting or other presentation would not be deemed employment. In another document they were told to sign, the companies maintained that Vamos and the others were told they were not being considered for an employment position, the suit stated.
Yet, the companies “exercised substantial control over the manner, means, and timing of the work performed for … `American Idol’ airing on ABC,” the suit stated.
“Despite the attempt to usurp applicable California Labor law, the attempt here of calling a rose anything other than a rose, does not change the nature or characteristics of it being a rose, just as the attempt to exempt themselves from employment protections does not actually do so,” the suit stated.