UPDATE: Click to Read the Entire Phillip Phillips Petition Phillip terminated all of his agreements with 19, on December 22, 2014 due to repeated violations of the Talent Agencies Act. Phillip is requesting that the Labor Commissioner “determine the controversy pursuant to the act.”
Yesterday, the bombshell news dropped that American Idol season 11 winner, Phillip Phillips, filed a petition with the California Labor Commission to get out of his contract with 19 Entertainment.
The entity, the entertainment arm of the company that owns American Idol, manages Phillip’s career, while ANOTHER arm, 19 Records, functions as his record label. It’s a situation that brings up conflict of interest issues that are at the crux of the singer’s complaint against the company. He charges that 19 has made decisions that benefit the 19, and their entities like TV show, American Idol, over the promotion of the singer’s music career.
This morning, Good Morning America aired a segment on Phillip’s quest to void his contract. After the taped news report, ABC’s legal analyst, Dan Abrams weighed in.
I found the discussion helpful, as Abrams makes the distinction between a lawsuit and a petition.
“You basically have two choices in California. You can sue, or you can go to this California Labor Commission,” said Abrams. “Ordinarily, you go to the California Labor Commission because you don’t want to hire a lawyer, it’s much more informal, the process is much easier, you don’t typically have…the multi-million dollar lawsuit.”
However, Abrams, asserts, Phillip and his legal team have a hill to climb, “It’s happened, and contracts have been invalidated by the California Labor Commission, although it is very tough…[to get] this kind of deal…invalidated.”
“He’s not in an easy position here,” said Abrams.
The analyst noted the HUGE impact a ruling in Phillip’s favor could have. “This is not a judge deciding…if this commission makes a decision that says the entire contract is a violation of the Talent Agencies Act, that could invalidate all sorts of reality show contracts.”
Abrams added, “I doubt they would go that far. It could cherry pick certain things…but we could also see a lawsuit down the road.”
Phillip’s attorney tells ABC News, “The singer appreciates the opportunity American Idol afforded him, but he never anticipated that the producers would favor their own interests above his career.”
“We’re very proud of everything we’ve accomplished together with Phillip, working closely to help nurture his extraordinary talent and advance his career,” 19 Entertainment said in a statement, “We have always acted in the best interest of Phillip. We will vigorously defend ourselves from any baseless claims to the contrary and from any attempt to interfere with our rights and relationships.”
Watch the full report below:
http://youtu.be/IxvZ8ZPfBeM
