Reality TV star and business mogul Kim Kardashian has reached a settlement agreement with seven of her former housekeepers who sued her in 2021 over alleged labor law violations and failure to properly compensate them for their work. According to court documents obtained by Radar Online, Kardashian and the plaintiffs have hashed out a private deal to resolve the dispute and put an end to the contentious legal battle.
Details of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit, originally filed by Andrew Ramirez and six other employees in Los Angeles Superior Court, claimed the housekeepers were hired to work at Kardashian’s lavish mansion in Hidden Hills, California. They alleged they were promised full-time positions with benefits, but were instead classified as independent contractors and received no employee benefits.
The plaintiffs also asserted Kardashian failed to provide them with proper meal and rest breaks, did not furnish them with accurate pay stubs, and did not reimburse them for employment-related expenses.
One notable allegation was that Ramirez’s son, Andrew Jr., was allowed to work for Kardashian while he was still a minor, in potential violation of child labor laws which restrict the hours and types of work underage employees can perform.
Kardashian’s Initial Response
When the lawsuit was first filed, Kardashian denied responsibility for the alleged labor infractions. She claimed the housekeepers were hired through a third-party vendor and therefore she was not their employer.
“Kim is not party to the agreement made between the vendor and their workers, therefore she is not responsible for how the vendor manages their business and the agreements they have made directly with their staff,” a representative for Kardashian stated at the time.
Failed Dismissal and Move to Settle
However, after failing to get the case dismissed, Kardashian agreed in July 2022 to call off the scheduled trial and enter private mediation with the plaintiffs in an effort to reach a settlement.
The recent court filings indicate the parties have now “reached an agreement in principle” to resolve the action, and the housekeepers will move to dismiss the lawsuit within 60 days.
The specific settlement terms, including any monetary payments Kardashian will make to the plaintiffs, are being kept confidential.
But the agreement brings a close to the heated court battle, during which the housekeepers had accused Kardashian of improper actions like having her estate manager fill out court paperwork on her behalf.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys had even sought sanctions against the celebrity defendant at one point in the proceedings.
Other Kardashian Legal Disputes
Interestingly, this is not the only recent legal dispute involving the famous family’s household staff. Khloe Kardashian’s former assistant also filed a lawsuit accusing her of being a “nightmare” boss, but ended up dropping his case as well.
The frequency of these types of cases highlights the importance for celebrities and high net worth individuals to work with reputable cleaning services, have proper employment contracts in place, and ensure they are following all applicable labor laws – even if the staff is not directly employed by them.
The Bigger Picture
More broadly, the Kardashian housekeepers’ lawsuit sheds light on the continued problem of wage theft and worker misclassification that affects many low-wage workers, particularly in the domestic and service industries.
Misclassifying employees as independent contractors is a tactic some employers use to avoid paying minimum wage, overtime, and benefits. Failing to provide required breaks, accurate pay statements, and expense reimbursements are other common wage and hour violations.
While the details of this particular settlement will remain private, hopefully the resolution has provided some measure of justice for the aggrieved workers and will encourage the Kardashians and other high-profile employers to implement best practices going forward to ensure all their staff are being properly compensated and treated fairly under the law.
The case also demonstrates the vital importance of house cleaners being aware of their rights and being willing to speak up and take legal action if they believe their employer is committing wage theft or otherwise violating labor standards, no matter how wealthy or powerful that employer may be.
Though the prospect of going up against a celebrity boss in court can be daunting, workers have strength in numbers and the law on their side.