Saturday, November 23, 2013

THIS INJUSTICE SHOULD NOT STAND


A revised settlement in the Freelance Writers' class action suit was filed with the US District Court in New York Friday.

There are several points in the revised settlement that I don't agree with, but can live with.

This paragraph, however, should not be allowed to stand:


"Revised Terms: Under the revised settlement, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel, on behalf


of counsel for the Category A and B works, will apply for a total fee-and-cost award of

approximately $3.3 million, plus a $2,000 special award for each of the nineteen Category A/B

representative plaintiffs and the estates of Derrick Bell and Andrea Dworkin. Counsel for the

Category C works will apply for an “all-in” award of $600,000 for attorneys’ fees, costs, and

special awards to the two Category C representative plaintiffs and eight former objectors. The

Defense Group has agreed not to oppose these applications."

Muchnick should not be allowed to profit for causing such misery to the class members.  It is tantamount to paying him a ransom to release payments for everyone else.  I am going to try to find out exactly what this "special award" is.  If it is anything that amounts to a substantial sum, I will urge all freelance writers to object to this travesty. 




5 comments:

  1. How are we going to get the names and contacts of other free-lance writers. As you know, writers' groups have refused in the past to try to help writers communicate with each other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You put your name and contact information on this board and ask people to contact you.

      Delete
  2. So, Mr. Freelance Wrongs, what about the courage of your convictions? Who are you?
    Muchnick was always public, and so he gets your regular doses of criticism. Step up.

    ReplyDelete
  3. As pointed out in the mission statement of this blog, it was created for freelance writers to vent about Muchnick's objection. This blog is, and has always been, anonymous. There is no moderator and no censorship. Everyone, including myself, is encouraged to remain anonymous, unless they choose not to. There are several reasons for this, the most important being retribution from the slew of attorneys involved in this case. If you have a different opinion, you're welcome to it. What Muchnick did stinks to high heaven.

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  4. Word has it that Mr. Muchnick and the other objectors will receive a "special award" of at least $2,600. Perhaps Mr. Chalmers could confirm that, since he will be the person parceling out those dollars. BTW, the named plaintiffs who stepped forward and made this suit possible in the first place (some 14 years ago) are due to receive $2,000. It would be interesting to hear Mr. Chalmers' and Mr. Muchnick's thoughts on why the objectors deserve larger awards. If Mr. Muchnick, indeed, prides himself in being "always public", he should take the opportunity to comment on this board.

    ReplyDelete