Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich Faces Overtime Pay Lawsuit
In Tennessee and all across the United States, when employees work more than forty hours in one work week, they are entitled by law to overtime pay. However, many companies, businesses, and even rock stars find ways around this law or fail their employees overtime at all.
In this case, the former personal assistant for Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich is filing a lawsuit against the drummer for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act and failing to pay him overtime. Steven Wiig, Ulrich’s former personal assistant claims that Ulrich failed to pay him overtime when he worked between fifty and seventy hours a week. Wiig also claims that his job duties included maintaining Ulrich’s music and movie collections, hosting guests at concerts, driving the drummer to late night social events, videotaping personal and professional appearances, and dealing with issues related to Ulrich’s art collection. The lawsuit states that Wiig performed these tasks while at Ulrich’s home, studio, and on worldwide tours.
Ulrich may argue that Steven Wiig was exempt from overtime pay because of the domestic service exemption which makes household employees such as cooks, waiters, butlers, caretakers, and chauffeurs of vehicles for family use exempt from overtime pay requirements. However, courts have stated that in order to qualify for this exemption the job duties must be solely domestic and not include such work as answering phones or taking messages.
Cases similar to this one happen to employees all across the country and even right here to Tennessee employees. If you or someone you care about has worked more than forty hours in one work week and failed to receive your overtime pay, then we encourage you to contact one of our caring and experienced Tennessee employment overtime pay attorneys as soon as possible. We care about our clients and will work with you to make sure you get the compensation you deserve for the hours you work. Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
