Legal Question in Entertainment Law in California
10-99 Entertainment Employee Unpaid Invoices
I am a makeup artist who has worked for a hair/makeup agency that services the entertainment industry. They essentially book me for jobs with companies like Interscope or Universal and I am paid through them.
Over the past year, I have received payment on only a few select invoices. I now have over 15 invoices totaling approximately 12,000 dollars for which I have not been paid going back to 2007. They keep telling me that they haven't been paid by the companies they invoice and that I will be paid when they are paid.
I'm wondering where I stand legally in this and if there is any action I can take to receive rightful payment for services rendered.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: 10-99 Entertainment Employee Unpaid Invoices
What bullshit. Who cares if the studio paid them -- of course they got paid. They are using you as their financing entity. Have a lawyer write them a letter demanding payment in full, and if that doesn't work, sue.
Re: 10-99 Entertainment Employee Unpaid Invoices
You are being taken advantage of. As an independent contractor, you have the right to negotiate the terms of payment in your dealings with companies like this. From now on.. .insist on payment at START of work for each day. If they don't have payment for you... don't do the work! Walk away!
You should use a written contract that specifies the terms under which you'll work, and perhaps a late-payment policy with either interest or a late-fee.
Meanwhile, until they pay you in full for the services you rendered, you should not work for them any more.
You can and should consider hiring a lawyer to (a) write them a formal demand letter insisting on immediate payment, (b) suing them for the money owed to you (or take them to Small claims court... but beware the $7,500 limit on Small Claims awards).
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