CBS and Worldwide Pants, which produces “Late Show with David Letterman,” have been hit with a class-action lawsuit by a woman who claims she is due wages and overtime for her work as an intern on the late-night program, reports TheWrap.com.
“In the suit, filed in the Supreme Court in New York on Thursday, Mallory Musallam says she was employed as a ‘Late Show’ intern from September to December 2008,” the story reports. “During her time at the show, the suit says Musallam ‘typically worked in excess of forty (40) hours per week.’ During her time there, the suit adds, Musallam performed various tasks, including but not limited to doing research for interview material, delivering film clips from libraries, running errands, faxing, scanning, operating the switchboard, and other similar duties.”
The lawsuit alleges the defendants “have maintained a policy and practice of wrongfully classifying Named Plaintiffs and others similarly situated that worked on ‘The Late Show With David Letterman‘ as exempt from minimum wages and overtime compensation.”
CBS said it would “vigorously defend against the claims” in the lawsuit, and claimed it was an example of “class action lawyers attacking internship opportunities provided by companies in the media and entertainment industry.”
If I were of intern age and had the opportunity to be: …”doing research for interview material, delivering film clips from libraries, run errands, faxing, scanning, operating the switchboard, and other similar duties…” on Letterman’s Show, I would do it in a heart beat.
To do it for several months to learn some ropes, meet some people, that’s what it’s all about for “those who are new at this racket”.
I have both paid interns and not paid interns…I can see and strongly argue both sides of the issue.
As for this six year old complaint now coming to the surface, me thinks there is something beyond the immediate obvious and it all centers around grubby legal beagles out to score some ill gotten $’s.
Hang in there Tiffany Network…keep your World Wide Pants ON.
Peter Bright
after this BS suit, she’ll never work again. does she not know prospective employers google names before hiring. her name will come up as a red flag. if she gets lucky, she can join the fast food workers in their fight for $15 an hour cause thats where she’ll be working the rest of her sad life.