The KMR Talent Agency is under fire due to being several months late in paying clients. President Mark Measures states that the talent agency was dealing with a “talent payment breakdown” due to logistical and staffing issues which have caused the delay in client payments. Measures stated that the agency has faced banking issues, the crash of their payment database, and the loss of the Head of Talent Payment led to the issues with client payment.
Shortly after Measures’ statements, KMR Talent Agency left the Association of Talent Agents (ATA). Just a few days later, Measures sent a letter to SAG-AFTRA informing the guild of the decision to suspend their franchise. In the letter, Measures states that “it is in the best interest of KMR and its clients to temporarily inactivate [the] franchise with the union…the decision is not taken lightly, but it presents us with the opportunity to address and rectify the issues that have been causing significant distractions in recent times.” Further, he wrote, “ I want to assure…that I am fully committed to taking all necessary steps to correct these issues…We will be restructuring the agency to ensure a stronger launch when we ask to reactivate our franchise with SAG/Aftra.”
Reportedly, this decision has left KMR agents blindsided – so much that multiple agents have publicly left the agency. Some of these agents have left to join other agencies or start their own agencies.
Clients have taken to online forums to share their experiences; many of them claim that the talent agency owes them tens of thousands of dollars. These forums are full of stories of bounced checks and no answers from the talent agency. KMR Talent is projected to owe over $3 million.
About the KMR Talent Agency
KMR Talent – also known as Kazarian, Measures, Ruskin & Associates – started as The Wormser Agency, which was the first voice-over and commercial agency in Los Angeles at the time (in 1957). KMR has expanded significantly over the years, although it remains one of the smaller agencies in the industry. KMR Talent has offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta.
Can I File a Claim?
Yes – if you have not been paid for the work that you have done, you could have grounds to file a claim. More specifically, you can file a wage claim with the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). When employees are not paid the wages they are owed, they can file a wage claim and start the process to collect said wages. Although some claims are straightforward and can be resolved without any legal representation, this is not the true of all cases – especially those involving agencies, unions, and other entities. We recommend that you seek legal representation to handle your unpaid wages claim.
What Should I Do?
First and foremost, it is essential that you gather all the facts surrounding your unpaid wages; this may include a record of all the hours you have worked, pay stubs, schedules, etc. If your employer issued checks that bounced back, gather records of all fees resulting from these checks. It is also very important to keep records of all communication related to these unpaid wages, whether these are text messages, emails, letters, etc. If you find yourself unsure of what steps to take to start a claim to get your unpaid wages, contact us today. Our unpaid wages employment lawyers are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Can I Recover Compensation?
Yes – based on the details surrounding your unpaid wages lawsuit, you could be entitled to receive compensation for some of the following:
- Financial losses – specifically, reimbursement for all your lost wages and any other financial damages incurred due to the unpaid wages.
- Pain and suffering – for mental and emotional distress associated caused by the unpaid wages.
- Punitive damages – specifically, a punishment towards the defendant to discourage additional incidents of unpaid wages.
- Legal fees – to cover all costs associated with pursuing a claim.
Here at the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, our experts have decades of experience handling unpaid wage claims and are ready to go above it all to fight for your rights and help you recover the maximum payout available for your claim. For more information about the legal options available to you, contact us today.
Our Team Can Help You – Contact Our Unpaid Wages Lawyers Today!
If KMR Talent has not paid you the wages that you are owed, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. For more information about the legal options available to you, we urge you to reach out to our team as soon as possible. Far too many employees are taken advantage of by their employers. Please allow us to fight for your rights and get you the justice that you are owed.
To ensure that our team remains as accessible as possible, we offer free legal services. These free legal services include both free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all of your concerns. Our employment lawyers are ready to evaluate your unpaid wage claim and provide you with all the information that you need to either start or continue your claim. To benefit from these free legal services, contact us today.
Zero-Fee Guarantee – You will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any legal services. Our law firm also works on a strict contingency structure, so our clients will never be required to pay anything if their claims are unsuccessful. If you do not win, you simply will not pay anything.
If you are ready to speak with our unpaid wage lawyers, contact our experts here at the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group.
