Wage Law

That Britney Spears story we mentioned yesterday brought back some old and fond memories. We have enjoyed the privilege of litigating wage claims against very famous people from time to time. Our most curious settlement ever occurred in a wage case where we represented the personal assistant of an extremely famous person who will undoubtedly still be famous 500 years from now. During the settlement conference, when we got to be about $10,000 apart, our client became frustrated and observed that the defendant could easily make up the $10,000 difference just by signing his name 100 times. What, then, we asked, if he agreed to sign his name 100 times and we were done with it? In an age of eBay and other efficient markets, the client thought it might work.

The judge, the defense lawyer and his client all looked at us like we were crazy when we made that our "last and best offer" at the end of the day. The negotiations then got even stranger.

Them: He'll sign 50 times. Not 100.
Us: Okay, but then he has to sign 50 of those limited edition thingies.
Them: Done.

Our fee on the 50 signed limited edition thingies was, believe it or not, a percentage of the signed limited edition thingies. We donated some, sold some and hung a few as objects d'art in the office.