Country star sued over pay for technicians on box office dud. (Law).FOUR members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees union have sued Dwight Yoakam, seeking $25,000 in salary and benefits they claim the country & western singer-cum-director failed to pay them for their work on his 2001 film "South of Heaven, West of Hell." The sound technicians, members of IATSE's Local 695 in L.A., worked on the Arizona set of Yoakam's film between April and June 1999, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. their lawyer, Helena Wise. The union is not a party to the suit. In the suit, filed Aug. 22 in L.A. County Superior Court, the IATSE IATSE International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada IATSE International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators workers claim Yoakam had a written agreement to pay them after the production company that arranged the collective bargaining agreement The contractual agreement between an employer and a Labor Union that governs wages, hours, and working conditions for employees and which can be enforced against both the employer and the union for failure to comply with its terms. with the union, A Cast Astrays, filed for bankruptcy protection in October 1999. "We have some anxious employees who can't understand, given Mr. Yoakam's current standing and credits as an actor, a recording star and as an entrepreneur, why these debts have not been taken care of," Wise said. The union members claim they lost wages, contributions to their health insurance and pension funds and other costs, such as equipment rentals and lost and damaged equipment. Yoakam's attorney, Robbin Itkin of Kirkland & Ellis, said, "This is a totally baseless lawsuit and obviously brought because of Mr. Yoakam's celebrity status." "South of Heaven, West of Hell," released in June 2001, was Yoakam's directorial debut. He also starred in the picture, along with Vince Vaughn, Billy Bob Thornton Robert George (Bob) Thornton (born July 10 1962, in Los Angeles, California) is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA whose career lasted from 1985 to 1996. He was a 6'10" 225 forward. He holds career averages of 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 283 total games. , Paul Reubens Paul Reubens (born Paul Rubenfeld on August 27, 1952) is an American actor, writer, and comedian, known professionally for his character Pee-wee Herman. As Pee-wee, Reubens starred in the television series Pee-wee's Playhouse from 1986 until 1990. , Bridget Fonda Bridget Jane Fonda (born January 27, 1964) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-award nominated American actress. Biography Early life Fonda was born in Los Angeles, California, U.S. and Peter Fonda. The movie was both a critical and financial flop, bringing in only $16,609 on nine screens during its limited theatrical run, according to ReelSource Inc., a box office tracking firm. |
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