This week Melissa Margulies, former player of the Los Angeles Temptation, filed suit in Superior Court against what was for formerly called the Lingerie Football League. The all female league began as a Super Bowl halftime show. Now known as the Legends Football League, the league is made up of 10 teams across the United States and 9 teams in Canada and Australia.
As described in this article, Margulies’ suit alleges that instead of being classified as employees, players are “willfully misclassified” as independent contractors. Although the league requires players to be at practices and social events, to avoid any activity that could result in injury, and to give all publicity rights to the league, players are not given wage statements, are denied overtime, and denied reimbursement for work related expenses.
The suit reads in part, “It is difficult to imagine how players in a team sports league could ever qualify as independent contractors. The nature of team sports demands that players follow league and team rules or face discipline or termination.”
If you or someone you know thinks they have been the victim of wrongful employment practices, the team at Radford & Keebaugh can help. Contact us by phone at (678) 369-3609 or use our contact form.