Exotic Dancer Files Class Action

MARTINSBURG, W. Va. (CN) - A nude dancer filed a federal class action against a nightclub, claiming it does not pay its dancers at all, but charges them to work, and adds escalating fees for private dances they perform.

Tammy M. Blake sued Taboo Gentlemen's Club and its manager Casey McGee.

She says she danced under the stage name "Brooke" from March 2010 until January 2011 at the club, which "engaged in the business of serving food and spirituous beverages and featuring all nude and semi-nude exotic dancers."

Blake says she worked 7½-hour shifts, 4 to 5 days a week, but the "defendants did not pay plaintiff any wages for work duties she performed," nor did they pay the other dancers.

Instead, she says, the club made dancers pay it $10 for each night shift they worked and $5 for each day shift. The money came from the dancers' personal tips.

In addition, dancers had to cough up $10 for each "private dance" they did, $40 for each 20-minute "champagne room" dance, and $65 for each half-hour "champagne room" dance. That money too came from their tips.

The complaint does not elucidate the nature of the champagne room or its dances.

Blake says the club did not pay minimum wage, and added injury to the insult by fining them $10 to $25 for being late to work, and $50 for missing work without notice.

She seeks unpaid wages, costs, and statutory liquidated damages for labor violations.

She is represented by Garry Geffert of Martinsburg.

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