Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
A trade association of entertainment personal managers has asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to investigate acting state labor commissioner Robert A. Jones for his actions in a long-running dispute over Rosa Blasi's commissions.
The National Conference of Personal Managers alleges that Jones acted improperly, demonstrated bias and violated California law as a result of his Aug. 22 letter to the California Supreme Court.
In that letter, Jones asserted that the Second District Court of Appeals erred in June when it ruled in favor of Marathon Entertainment and Rick Siegel, Blasi's ex-manager. That ruling overturned part of a state court decision and backed Siegel's contention that a single violation of the state's Talent Agencies Act did not necessarily invalidate all other work he performed as a manager.
NCPOM prexy Clinton Billups Jr. noted in the letter to Schwarzenegger that Jones will be involved in making decisions about the case if it's remanded to the state labor board unless the Supreme Court rules the Talent Agencies Act doesn't apply to managers.
"The California Government Code requires state agencies to act within constitutionally mandated limits in administering law and mandates a separation between administration and adjudication," Billups said. "The commissioner's comments in his letter to the Supreme Court were not made in an advisory position, but as an advocate in a case still before him. His actions were biased, improper and illegal."
A rep for Jones said he would not comment on the NCPOM request. A rep for Schwarzenegger was not immediately available for comment.
Blasi fired Siegel two years after she became a regular on "Strong Medicine," leading to a 2003 suit by Siegel over unpaid commissions. A state court decision backed Blasi, but the appeals court overturned part of that ruling and backed Siegel's contention that a single violation of the state's Talent Agencies Act did not necessarily invalidate all other work he performed as a manager.
Along with Jones, SAG, AFTRA and the Assn. of Talent Agents have all asked the State Supreme Court to de-publish the appeals court decision on the basis that the entire contract should be voided if there's any procurement of employment by a nonlicensed agent such as a manager. Depublishing the ruling would prevent it from being used as a precedent, if the Supreme Court declines Blasi's appeal.
Contact Dave McNary at
dave.mcnary@variety.com