Olsen Twins' Fashion Company The Row Sued For Not Paying Ex-Intern
Full House former child stars Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's fashion line, The Row (under Dualstar Entertainment) was charged for not paying an ex-intern despite nor giving college credits for her services rendered.
In a report by Defame Gawker, Shahista Lalani is said to have filed a complaint for alleged unfair working tasks given to her as an intern for four months way back in 2012.
Lalani said that she, together with other interns, performed the tasks of regular, full-time employees like photocopying, sewing, cleaning, and running personal errands. The complainant further said that the tasks never seem to end.
"I was talking to [the head technical designer] all day, all night. Other interns have cried. I'd see a lot of kids crying doing coffee runs, photocopying stuff."
In another instance, the complainant said that her stressful task of carrying "like 50 pounds worth of trench coats" in 100-degree weather and "sweating to death" had made her ill and let her to be hospitalized for dehydration.
For now, the ex-intern is urging some other 40 interns said to have experienced the unfair situation and said to have deserved being paid for at least minimum wages and overtime pay for doing a regular employee's tasks.
In a response to Lalani's complaint, Dualstar responded saying that the former's complaints are 'groundless' and the company is ready to defend their name in court, CNBC said.
"As an initial matter, Dualstar is an organization that is committed to treating all individuals fairly and in accordance with all applicable laws. The allegations in the complaint filed against Dualstar are groundless, and Dualstar will vigorously defend itself against plaintiff's claims in court, not before the media," Dualstar's official statement said.
A similar lawsuit was also filed against Fox Searchlight Pictures in September 2011 for alleged not paying of interns who perform administrative duties in the set of Black Swan, USA Today recalled.
The case ended up with The Federal District Court releasing a decision in favor of the interns.
