TV's Jon Gosselin sues TLC, cites child labor laws

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iVoWyiv68Cf6s7VcOMP_AwgYflxQD9BUUGR00

By BRETT ZONGKER (AP) – 2 days ago

WASHINGTON — Jon Gosselin has filed a counter lawsuit against the TLC network, claiming television producers violated Pennsylvania's child labor laws in filming the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and are preventing him from working.

The suit seeking more than $5 million in damages was filed Thursday in Maryland's Montgomery County Circuit Court in response to a network lawsuit alleging Gosselin failed to meet his obligations as an employee.

Gosselin's attorney Mark Jay Heller said the network had the family sign a complicated deal in 2005 without the advice of a lawyer.

"I do not believe we were paid a fair amount for the overreaching and overly restrictive contract — my family was initially paid $2,000 per episode for all ten members of my family and the use of my family home for filming," Gosselin wrote in a court filing. He went on to say the family accepted the deal because they were "in desperate need of revenue to meet the needs of our eight children."

Heller said the network also failed to obtain child work permits that would spell out what hours the children would work and how they would be paid. An anonymous complaint to Pennsylvania authorities over a clip that showed TV producers refusing water to one of the children prompted an ongoing investigation, according to Gosselin's court filing.

"I believe that this case will be the historic case ... that will stand for the principle that the courts will not tolerate corporations, no matter how profitable, to take advantage in the workplace of infants," Heller said.

FULL story at link.

[Barack_America]

1. As much as I think this guy is a tool, he has a point.

It's a shame the idea his kids were being overworked just now occurred to him.

[Warpy]

2. Funny how it didn't bother him while he was cashing in

on the overwork of his children.

Yes, he's got a point. However, his timing (and his personality) sucks.

[Crunchy Frog]

3. I can't wait to see the tell all books those kids will eventually write.