Legal Question in Business Law in California

Business Discrimination

My business provides a scheduling service for ''background movie extras'' out of Los Angeles. These businesses are called ''calling services'' and charge a monthly fee to the extras to schedule them on movies & television.

I quit my job as manager of the largest calling service in the city to open my own business.

One of the largest casting offices in town will not allow it's casting directors to use my service as revenge for me quitting the other job (which is owned by one of his friends)

Is this illegal? To refuse to work with a business that needs contact with your employees out of a personal vendetta?


Asked on 5/19/08, 7:38 pm

4 Answers from Attorneys
Arkady Itkin Law Office of Arkady Itkin

Re: Business Discrimination

It is likely that you have a legitimate claim for tortuous interference with business and contractual relationship. This is a serious violation for which business are often found liable not only for damages caused to the other party but also for substantial punitive damages. Numerous similar cases have been filed in the past few year in California.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me.

Thanks,

Arkady

[email protected]

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Answered on 5/21/08, 5:22 pm
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Re: Business Discrimination

I don't think it's illegal and I don't think you could win a lawsuit on these facts.

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Answered on 5/20/08, 1:52 pm
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: Business Discrimination

I agree with Mr. Whipple's response and I disagree with Mr. Stone's.

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Answered on 5/20/08, 4:38 pm
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Re: Business Discrimination

Not a bad lawsuit, but you would need to prove your allegations. Short of actually having a memo, you would need to take lots of witness depositions at maybe $500/pop. Then you would need to prove that you would have made $X but for the boycott, you would need an accountant-as-an-expert witness.

Not impossible, but costly. And while there might be a law related to unfair competition that provides that you get your attorney fees in addition to any award of damages, I won't take the case on contingency and I doubt that any other lawyers would.

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Answered on 5/19/08, 7:55 pm


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