Yesterday, a federal court judge dismissed 40 lawsuits filed against SAG-AFTRA over the Return to Work Agreement, which allowed entertainment workers to be among the first industries to safely return to work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her order, Judge Josephine L. Staton, U.S. district judge for the Central District of California, dismissed the complaints, finding that even if all allegations in the complaints could be proven, they failed to state a legal claim against the union. The dismissal was ordered “with prejudice,” meaning that the claims cannot be refiled.
“We are pleased with the federal district court’s order to permanently dismiss these cases,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “We look forward to continuing to expand our members’ work opportunities and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of those who helped make sets safe enough to return the industry to work during the unprecedented challenge presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
SAG-AFTRA was represented by Lisa Demidovich of Bush Gottlieb, ALC.
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.