WWE being sued (updated, 2 lawsuits)

[The Pope]

- WWE is being sued for the equivalent of $21.6 million by a European-based merchandising company. The company alleges that WWE made false claims that they were selling fake WWE apparel in stores across France. WWE said that the company was violating a licensing agreement by selling fake merchandise. The company has filed a lawsuit in Paris saying that the clothing they were selling was not counterfeit

That's a ton of money.

WWE News: Connecticut officials investigating the company for classifying wrestlers and other talent as independent contractors
Sep 14, 2010 - 11:31 AM

WWE confirmed to the Connecticut Post that they are being investigated by state officials over classifying wrestlers and other behind the scenes production talent as independent contractors. "WWE has always complied with the law," said WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman.

"Up until this election, WWE has not been fined nor investigated in the past for independent contractor classification. However, curiously the state of Connecticut is currently conducting an audit of WWE's classification of independent contractors. WWE constantly reviews its internal practices and procedures to comply with ever-changing employee laws." To read more on the story, visit CTPost.com.

Powell's POV: It's worth nothing that Linda McMahon's opponent Richard Blumenthal pledged to crack down on companies that misclassify employees. Obviously, WWE officials feel it's a political move. From where I sit, it's a long overdue investigation regardless of the motive.

[EDWARD]

Wow.

[Schlomey]

Trying to get a piece of the pie......or Baguette, if you will.

[The Pope]

If WWE loses both, they are going to be in some trouble.

[ClockShot]

The overseas thing is nothing.

But the "independent contractors" thing has been floating around for a long time. Scott Levy tried to take them to court on that subject and didn't work out. There's probably a few other cases that have popped up over the past that I can't recall. .

But, Linda McMahon's campaign is based over jobs and she may have to come clean about what the wrestler's classification is. This could work to Blumenthal's advantage.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Why is WWE being singled out for this independent contractors thing? TNA has the same set up for employee/employer relations.

[bigslimjj]

Whatever it takes to lose the PG rating. i hope she gets crushed in the race.

[Joe Kerr]

Why is WWE being singled out for this independent contractors thing? TNA has the same set up for employee/employer relations.

Because of Lindas campaigning..I bet you see more dirt brought up through elections.

[erickman]

Because of Lindas campaigning..I bet you see more dirt brought up through elections.

yep an it is pissing off the dems an they will push the unions, if vince and linda were smart they would have stayed out of the election.

[jskinnyg]

yep an it is pissing off the dems an they will push the unions, if vince and linda were smart they would have stayed out of the election.

I have been thinking this the entire time she has been running... With all of the "Scandal" that has been plaguing the wrestling industry for years, how could they think something like this would not happen... Maybe all that money got to their heads... Hmmm...

[BizarroKing]

I don't really understand what this means.

[Volare]

It's another tactic by the Democratic party that's going against Linda McMahon, calling them on their record hope Linda folds up in the process.

[Th3R0CKSays]

Ehh. I don't know how much politics you all follow, but this is not surprising at all. This sort of thing happens all the time when a candidate from a party not in power is attempting to win a seat, or an office held by an opposing party, these sorts of investigations tend to magically pop up. You can almost guarantee that if Dixie Carter were running for Governor of wherever the hell she is from, there would be government agencies all over TNA, like stink on shit about their wellness program, and whatever else they could drum up.

With WWE being a major publicly traded corporation, you can bet that their labor attorneys certainly have addressed this issue in corporate audits at least annually, and this CT investigation will turn up absolutely nothing. The purpose it will serve is to give Linda's opponent political ammunition to come after her with about being a shady business person, and what not.. I can see Raven and everyone else that attempted to sue the WWE, being trotted out in an anti Linda campaign add complaining about their "unfair treatment" when they were employed by the E. It's all nothing more than political posturing.

[McLegend]

The whole Independent Contractors is total bulllshit. I hope they do get fucked over, because of it.

[Emperor Smeat]

Not surprised about the whole issue with wrestlers as contractors vs employees since its been going on for years. If anything, it puts the issue about the status of wrestlers well-being in the public spotlight than just letting the wrestlers or WWE handle the issue as in the past.

The dispute about fake merchandise has a bigger monetary effect since the French company would lose a lot of consumer confidence if consumers believe the stores have been deceiving customers by selling fake goods. WWE also stands to lose retailer support since its very damaging to a store to be accused of selling fake merchandise when in reality they only sell official merchandise.

[St. Jimmy]

Are football players employees or indie contractors?

[Vastardikai]

Do football players have an "off season?" What about a Player's Union?

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Do football players have an "off season?" What about a Player's Union?

Is this a serious question? Of course they have both of those things. Though the NFL has serious protection with the Federal Government when it comes to Monopoly protection. This is also why Baseball has gotten flack over the years with the Federal Government too.

Professional Wrestling is not given this sort of monopoly protection. So, they have less power to tell the industry what they can and cannot do.

Independent Contractor/Employee is a great debate to have, but it's all being done for the wrong reasons. Focusing on just the WWE will make this reek of political gamesmanship.

I hope that these talks even though they are being done completely for the wrong reason will eventually make the lives of all professional wrestlers better. This isn't really about the stars of the WWE. This is about the guys in the Indy scenes who can't afford to pay for medical bills.

It's also about guys like Konnan who had a great run in WCW and then in TNA. Though medical bills have superseded what he made in those companies.

The most important issue that needs to be dealt with is drug abuse of the talent. WWE provides free rehab to any former employee, but something needs to be done so that gets them to the treatment that they need. WWE and Government should try to teach wrestlers that rehab isn't a bad thing, that it's a good thing for their life and health.

[Innovator]

Companies should have to classify wrestlers/superstars/entertainers/michael cole as employees, given proper benefits, etc.

[Vastardikai]

Is this a serious question? Of course they have both of those things. Though the NFL has serious protection with the Federal Government when it comes to Monopoly protection. This is also why Baseball has gotten flack over the years with the Federal Government too.

Professional Wrestling is not given this sort of monopoly protection. So, they have less power to tell the industry what they can and cannot do.

Independent Contractor/Employee is a great debate to have, but it's all being done for the wrong reasons. Focusing on just the WWE will make this reek of political gamesmanship.

I hope that these talks even though they are being done completely for the wrong reason will eventually make the lives of all professional wrestlers better. This isn't really about the stars of the WWE. This is about the guys in the Indy scenes who can't afford to pay for medical bills.

It's also about guys like Konnan who had a great run in WCW and then in TNA. Though medical bills have superseded what he made in those companies.

The most important issue that needs to be dealt with is drug abuse of the talent. WWE provides free rehab to any former employee, but something needs to be done so that gets them to the treatment that they need. WWE and Government should try to teach wrestlers that rehab isn't a bad thing, that it's a good thing for their life and health.

Does TNA allow for third party bookings? Does TNA force their workers to adhere to a dress code outside of work? Most importantly (as in why it's Connecticut in particular going after WWE.), does TNA operate out of Connecticut?

TNA actually adheres to the rules of "Independent Contractor" moreso than WWE does. Even if they didn't, they don't operate out of Connecticut. the state of Connecticut cannot investigate TNA.

The most important thing, the WWE was the one to disclose this investigation, not the State of Connecticut. Because it's an ongoing investigation, the State of Connecticut cannot comment on it, to the point of saying such things as how long the investigation has been going on or which department started it. Shit, for all we know, this could be a 2-year investigation. Or it could be the Labor Department doing this investigation (as in not the State Attorney General's office, as in NOT MCMAHON'S OPPONENT INVOLVED AT ALL). WWE isn't commenting on those things. Why? because through innuendo, it benefits Linda.

[Doc Brown]

As a sports broadcaster, we get told all the time to lay off on the Union stuff until something big is about to come down the pipeline (I.E the NFL Doomsday which will hit after this season). This wrestling thing has been coming to a head for years, and if McMahon and Co get dinged for this I will not hesitate to say it could very well be the beginning of the end of "Sports Entertainment" as we know it.

The spots are already watered down, but if a Union is backing EVERY participant and employee of that company it will turn from PG to G in a second.

Keep a close eye on this one, because my lord it could be MASSIVE.

[Kane Knight]

Why is WWE being singled out for this independent contractors thing? TNA has the same set up for employee/employer relations.

Aside from political connotations and the fact that it's Connecticut officials looking into a Concecticut based company, it's also the biggest company of its kind in the US.

Any one of those is a reason (some better than others), but all combined? I'm surprised WWE isn't under continuous scrutiny.

[SOCCER LEGS]

As a sports broadcaster, we get told all the time to lay off on the Union stuff until something big is about to come down the pipeline (I.E the NFL Doomsday which will hit after this season). This wrestling thing has been coming to a head for years, and if McMahon and Co get dinged for this I will not hesitate to say it could very well be the beginning of the end of "Sports Entertainment" as we know it.

The spots are already watered down, but if a Union is backing EVERY participant and employee of that company it will turn from PG to G in a second.

Keep a close eye on this one, because my lord it could be MASSIVE.

this guy knows what's up