DALLAS, TX — Exotic dancer files federal lawsuit over unpaid wages and unfair practices at Dallas strip club.

Exotic dancing is big business all over the country, and strip clubs are cashing in. The problem, however, is the fact that many club owners are knowingly and willingly cheating these dancers by paying them less than they’re truly owed under FLSA law. That being said, numerous lawsuits filed against strip clubs in Texas are beginning to turn this tide around, but not without a fight.

Northwest Dallas Strip Club Hit with Lawsuit

In December of 2014, a lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of strippers who banded together to sue their employer resulted in a settlement of more than $2.3 million. The women in question were regular dancers at a Northwest Dallas strip club who decided that they had had enough of the house exploiting them and taking most of the money they earned during work hours.

Three women (Selisha Brooks, Erica Jones and Crystal Winter) claimed that they had to share tips with the house manager, DJ’s and house moms, and even had to pay an entry fee just to get in as dancers. Given the fact that they worked more than 40 hours a week in a continuous time block fashion, they are considered by the Fair Labor Standards Act as bona fide employees and not as “contractors” who would come and go as needed.

The Dallas strip club, Jaguars, disagreed, stating that the strippers were only “contract laborers” and that they were permitted to perform under various forms of agreements with various entities. They also claimed that no performer was required or performed in excess of 40 hours a week.

About 200 other strippers joined the lawsuit, and the club later decided to settle with the women for $2,300,000.00 prior to litigation.

Clubhouse Lawsuit

This month, the Dallas strip club The Clubhouse (in Northwest Dallas) became the target of a similar lawsuit when a stripper decided to file a FLSA suit for unpaid wages. Megan Breaux, the plaintiff, alleged that during her year at the strip club, she was only paid in tips and that she had to split these with the house before pocketing a meager amount.

Ms. Breaux also added that the Clubhouse charged every stripper a house fee based on the time that they arrived at the premises, as well as a number of fees which are due before dancers start their shift.

The club owners said that they require entertainers to share their tips with non-service employees who don’t typically receive tips, and that they levy fines on dancers should they not work during specific hours and days of the week.

In essence, strippers who must adhere to the following are likely considered employees (and not independent contractors) in the eyes of the law:

• Expected to work particular shifts without the option of leaving early.
• Required to attend club meetings, whether formal or informal.
• Fined for violating club codes and rules.
• Required to pay a fee to get access to particular shifts.

FLSA labor laws also protect exotic dancers from termination should they get pregnant and have to take time off for maternity leave, and the same goes for if they get injured while on the job. On top of that, they may be entitled to medical care under workers’ compensation as well as minimum wage and overtime should they meet the 40-hour workweek criteria. Many dancers do not realize they’re being taken advantage of, and many are currently owed thousands of dollars in unpaid wages.

How do they compel the club to pay them the money their owed? By having an attorney file a claim on their behalf.

Call 1-800-ATTORNEY and speak with our lawyers about your situation today. If we feel we can help, we’ll confidentially investigate the matter and explain the legal options available to you for no cost. If we can help you with your case, we’ll do so on contingency, meaning that you’ll never risk a dime of your own money.