Penthouse Club strippers awarded nearly $5 million

14 comments

• Warrior15

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  7 years ago

  Why is it that every time I read about a large lawsuit settlement, I automatically think about how much of a cut did the attorney's get ?
  
  I don't know if they girls that will benefit from this award are still working in the profession or not. My guess is that they are former strippers just trying to find some money. But I don't think this will end well for the girls in general. Basically , the clubs will now start treating them like employees. Everything ( including tips ) will get paid to the club, then the club will take a cut and do withholding. The girls will end up making a lot less. But the girls getting this money won't care because they are now gone.
• PrimetimeSchein

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  7 years ago

  If it was Detroit that'd be a death blow
• K

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  7 years ago

  Every club should hire an employment lawyer to ensure they comply with federal and state laws. It may only be a few minor changes to make them independent contractors and not employees.
• Tiredtraveler

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  7 years ago

  If you leave it to lawyers they can fuck up a wet dream.
  It would have been a simple matter to have the girls pay a daily flat stage fee for which they agree to go on stage at least x number of times per shift and a room rental fee for each time they do a private.
  the tip out scenario is stupid.
  That also means that the manager can't fine them for being late but [if it is in the terms of their subcontract the contract) can be terminated for lack of performance (not showing up when they promise)
  The only thing the tip out does is gets the bouncers to direct guys to the dancers that tips them the best.
• san_jose_guy

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  7 years ago

  And again, there will be lots and lots of these lawsuits. But this does not mean that contractor status is over. It is not at all, it just has to be used more carefully.
  
  How about we find a strip club expert lawyer, or how about we develop one here. Anyone wanting to start a strip club needs to start by talking to a lawyer.
  
  SJG
• Hank Moody

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  7 years ago

  There is an overwhelming amount of law dealing with the distinction between employees and contractors. Employees have certain rights that cost employers money, health benefits and unemployment insurance to name a couple. Employers since the beginning of time have been trying to get away with not paying those costs. Is it better for the employees or IC’s? Maybe but that’s why the IRS has a 20 point test to determine into which class a worker falls. Penthouse knew the risks. There is a SHIT TON of case law involving strip clubs and this very question. Penthouse also has paid lawyers to look at this question. No doubt about it. They decided to take the risk and we’re found liable for not paying the federal minimum wage of $7 per hour. Getting sued and losing when you intentionally violate the law while being informed of the risks is a cost of doing business. The minimum wage law is the same in all 50 states, though some states up it. This case was not Marbury v. Madison or some groundbreaking legal decision. It happens all the time. Penthouse knew it. They ignored it. They got caught.
• chessmaster

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  7 years ago

  ^Everybody ignores it. As long as its beneficial to the clubs, they dont care. And the strippers dont care either until they cant make money anymore. As warrior said, they will make less as employees if these lawsuits continue. They either need to regulate the strip clubs and make sure they are paying strippers as employees or throw these damn lawsuits out. The only people benefiting from this is the strippers that cant make money anymore(which is the only reason they are suing in the first place).
• K

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  7 years ago

  there is another option for the clubs besides making them employees. Treat the dancers as contractors.
  
  Treating them as contractors is more complicated than telling them they are contractors and having them sign a contract. But not much more complicated.
  
  As has been pointed out, the club took a chance and got caught.
• san_jose_guy

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  7 years ago

  In some cases there have been advances in employee rights, and in some states more than others. So strip club owners need to stay current with court decisions. But contractor status will not go away.
  
  Like it or not, need a good lawyer.
  
  Thanks Jim,
  SJG
  
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• vincemichaels

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  7 years ago

  Good, and I hope the dancers keep winning these cases all the way up to the Supreme Court.
• san_jose_guy

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  7 years ago

  ^^^^ Yes, but there is still going to be contractor status, in strip clubs, but in lots of other situations as well. Most use of contractor status is not unlawful.
  
  What we need are some strip club issue specialist lawyers.
  
  SJG
• PinkSugarDoll

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  7 years ago

  The people filing these lawsuits are ex dancers. If we participate, even if the suit applies to us, we get blacklisted from being able to work in the clubs. Pretty messed up.
• chessmaster

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  7 years ago

  ^yes exactly. Its become a last pay-day option just to get something. Anything.
• Hank Moody

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  7 years ago

  Chess - I think you’re missing Pink’s point: if the still working dancers stand up to get what they are entitled to under the law, they will effectively be fired and prohibited from working. That’s fucked up and a real assertion of power by employer over employee.