Justin Henry, a former intern with Atlantic Records, filed a class-action lawsuit against the company, as well as parent company Warner Music Group, over his unpaid internship.
The number of lawsuits against music, movie, and entertainment companies for work from an unpaid internship has steadily increased in recent years and may play a bigger role in labor and entertainment law in the coming years, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Henry claims that he was never compensated for the work he performed for the company between October 2007 through May 2008, which he says violates labor laws. He argues that he was required to work more than 40-hour work weeks, and sometimes required to stay late into the evening. In the lawsuit, Henry notes that the work tasks he performed were not educational or vocational in nature and that the roles performed would have needed to be done by employees if he was not doing the work for free, the Post-Dispatch reports. The former intern seeks to recover claimed unpaid minimum wages and overtime wages for himself and other individuals facing similar circumstances. The latter class is believed to be greater than 100 individuals.
This is not the first case of the entertainment industry abusing those in an unpaid intersnhip, and in recent weeks, a federal judge sided with the plaintiff in a case revolving around unpaid internships. U.S. District Judge William Pauley III ruled against Fox Searchlight Pictures when an intern who worked on the hit “Black Swan” filed a suit after failing to be compensated for the work. Pauley ruled that the film company violated minimum wage and overtime laws by not paying interns who did the same work as regular employees, the news source reports.
The ruling may have also sparked another recent lawsuit against Conde Nast Publications from two interns who were not paid minimum wage. A separate lawsuit is also ongoing against Hearst Publications for related reasons.
Scarinci Hollenbeck Expands NYC Real Estate and Litigation Practices ADDING four litigators
NYC Real Estate and Litigation Attorney Ryan O. Miller and Team Join Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC New York City, NY – August 13, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC has strengthened its Real Estate and Litigation practices with the addition of four New York City-based attorneys. Ryan Miller, who joins as a partner, is well known for […]
Business law plays a critical role in nearly every aspect of running a successful enterprise, from negotiating a commercial lease to drafting employee policies to fulfilling corporate disclosure obligations. Understanding what is business law and your legal obligations can help your business run smoothly and build productive relationships with clients, business partners, regulators, and others. […]
Corporate Transactions: Best Practices for Successful Deals
Corporate transactions can have significant implications for a corporation and its stakeholders. For deals to be successful, companies must act strategically to maximize value and minimize risk. It is also important to fully understand the legal and financial ramifications of corporate transactions, both in the near and long term. Understanding Corporate Transactions The term “corporate […]
How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025
Ongoing economic uncertainty is forcing many companies to make tough decisions, which includes lowering staff levels. The legal landscape on both the state and federal level also continues to evolve, especially with significant changes to the priorities of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) under the Trump Administration. Terminating an employee is one of the […]
Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know
While filing annual reports may seem like a nuisance, failing to do so can have significant ramifications. These include fines, reputational harm, and interruption of your business operations. In basic terms, “admin dissolution for annual report” means that a company is dissolved by the government. This happens because it failed to submit its annual report […]
Antitrust laws are designed to ensure that businesses compete fairly. There are three federal antitrust laws that businesses must navigate. These include the Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act. States also have their own antitrust regimes. These may vary from federal regulations. Understanding antitrust litigation helps businesses navigate these complex […]
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
Let`s get in touch!
Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!
