WotC Being Sued By Magic: the Gathering Judges

Wizards of the Coast, which, as you likely know, produces the enormous collectible card game Magic: The Gathering (as well as RPGs like D&D) is on the end of a class action lawsuit filed by a small group of M:tG judges (Adam Shaw, Peter Golightly, Justin Turner, and Joshua Stansfield). The suit alleges that WotC failed to pay minimum wage, provide meal or rest breaks, reimburse business expenses, maintain accurate payroll records, and more. M:tG judges are volunteers, but the filing appears to allege that the degree of supervision and control exercised by WotC was enough to create an employer-employee relationship instead. The M:tG judges are demanding a jury trial.

Click on the image for the full 23-page document
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[Dire Bare]

They're having work long shifts with limited breaks, and still pay for meals. Possibly 12-36 hours of work over a convention. Plus travel time and potentially time taken off from their real jobs.
Unless they're being paid upwards of a thousand dollars worth of product, it seems light.

The same thing can apply to D&D DMs during a con. The amount of hours you need to run to qualify for a free hotel is pretty high. Especially the all-access pass DMs that might have limited no time at the convention to do other things (i.e. see the convention). And the compensation in the past has been a couple hundred dollars of books.

One difference between judging a Magic tournament and DMing a D&D game . . . the DM is actually playing the game right along the other players, the judge is not.

 

[MechaPilot]

As mentioned, unpaid interns. Also, college athletes.

Also medical residents, as in Mayo Foundation v U.S.

 

[Ampolitor]

Actually Morrus 21 years in Law Enforcement if you need to know.

 

[Ampolitor]

Um Yeah

I don't think you'll be eating anybody alive in the courtroom. Out of interest, which law firm do you represent?

Actually not in a law Firm, but 21 years of Law Enforcement, so I have been in the courtroom and stand as an Expert more than most, but nice try at the jab.

 

[Ampolitor]

so what's next, Dungeon Masters suing at events?

 

[MechaPilot]

Actually Morrus 21 years in Law Enforcement if you need to know.

Honest question, do you get much exposure to contract and employment law in your court appearances? Presumably, as a member of law enforcement your court experiences are mostly with violations of criminal law, and with testifying as to what occurred when you made an arrest, carried out a search warrant, or questioned a suspect.

 

[Ampolitor]

Honest question, do you get much exposure to contract and employment law in your court appearances? Presumably, as a member of law enforcement your court experiences are mostly with violations of criminal law, and with testifying as to what occurred when you made an arrest, carried out a search warrant, or questioned a suspect.

Alos Civil Law, Civil Process. I've been called as a witness in WAY to many civil cases, as most Police Officers do.

 

[Ampolitor]

The entire point is that these guys are going to have to prove there was some relationship with some sort of promise or expectation of compensation. This is going to be a hard sell, BUT if they do win that will open up a door wide open for a lot of other people.

 

[MechaPilot]

Alos Civil Law, Civil Process. I've been called as a witness in WAY to many civil cases, as most Police Officers do.

Pertaining to contract and employment law? Just saying civil law could mean civil suits related to things like theft, property damage, wrongful prosecution, violation of civil rights, etc.

 

[fjw70]

This is an interesting case. On the one side these guys agreed to judge for whatever compensation was offered. This isn't a coal mine exploiting a community. However, the law is the law. If the court determines there is an employer-employee relationship then pay up WotC.