Out of Court Settlement is Reached over Supermodel Daria-Susan J Model & Talent Management Reaches Compromise with Giant IMG
Ane
IT'S A WRAP!
>From the courthouse back to the Catwalk
Susan J Model & Talent Management Reaches Compromise with Giant IMG
Out of Court Settlement is Reached over Supermodel Daria
By Anne Howard
Toronto-ON (rushprnews) 10/03/2006 - From the catwalk to the
courthouse is where Susan J. Burych known as "Susan J" relationship
with International Management Group Inc. (IMG) ended up as a result of
a dispute over a five-year commission agreement regarding the
supermodel Daria Werbowy, whose career was launched in 1998 by Susan J
Model & Talent Management. Finally, September 2006 the conflict ended
and IMG and Susan J. agreed to settle out of court.
The dispute started when Susan J. Model and Talent Management, a
boutique agency owned and operated by Susan J. in Toronto decided to
fight the New York-based entertainment management giant over
commissions owed to her for Daria Werbowy's earnings. IMG claimed
that no commission was owed to Susan J. since Daria had left IMG in
2001 to join another one, however returning to IMG in 2003, at which
time her career finally took off to superstardom.
Daria Werbowy a polish-born Canadian now 23, is a childhood friend of
Susan J's daughter. She was a complete unknown until Susan J. groomed
her for the ensuing success. According to papers filed at the Ontario
Superior Court, Susan J. groomed Daria for a career in modeling,
training her "as a runway model, developing her portfolio, arranging
for test shoots and introducing her to the modeling world by traveling
with her and parents to New York city to meet with several top modeling
agencies in the industry, and also spending a great amount of personal
time over her career". Settling on IMG as the agency to be placed
with, Susan J. negotiated the deal and Daria's transition in 1998.
Susan J. signed a five-year commission agreement with IMG to provide
Daria Werbowy with representation. In exchange, IMG agreed to pay
Susan J. Model and Talent Management with a 10% of its commission from
Werbowy for five years
Following repeated refusal of IMG to pay up the commission and to
supply Susan J. with an accounting of Daria's gross earnings, IMG
tried blatantly to silence Susan J. by mailing Susan J. a check for
seventy dollars. This offence ignited Susan J.'s fire to fight the
big fight and not back down. As she stated now that she is victorious,
``If you`re a boutique agency don't ever give up because the Mighty
can fall too``.
IMG finally agreed to settle after two court cases in Ontario where IMG
was not able to get an order dismissing Susan J's lawsuit and a full
trial was ordered. Settlement was reached whereby
IMG had to make a monetary payment to Susan J.
When asked if she is happy with the settlement, Susan declared ''
Very otherwise I would not have settled. Finally I am being vindicated
and recognized as being the one who launched this supermodel
career''.
Does she have a word of advice for all the other small businesses out
there, '' Yes, make sure to have an airtight contract. Moreover,
do not be afraid to fight for what is rightfully yours. Do not let
yourself be intimidated``. One more thing, she added ''Get yourself
a kickass lawyer. All of my gratitude goes to Sandra Barton, formerly
with Gilbert's LLP and now with Heenan Blaikie who has done such an
astounding job prosecuting this lawsuit.
Finally, for Susan J. and IMG the courtroom drama is over and we can
now turn our gaze to the catwalk and watch the magic of fashion enfold.
And what of Daria Werbowy? The young beauty took a breather from last
season New York Fashion Week. As the It girl for Lancôme, she is
nevertheless far from out of sight. She will also be seen in various
Prada's ads with supermodel Kate Moss and others.
You may reach the writer Anne Howard at 310-295-9578,
an...@annehowardpublicist.com.
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