ps - we are still waiting for msn's chat subscribers to sue msn for fraud and failure to honor a written contract so feel free to use any info from this website
TECHNOLOGY BRIEFING
Tuesday, March 21, 2006; Page D05
LEGAL
Judge Allows AOL 'Volunteers' Suit to Proceed
A judge denied a request by America Online to dismiss a lawsuit filed in New York in 1999 by volunteer "community leaders" who claim they deserved to be paid for helping run chat rooms and other online forums. The decision removes a hurdle for as many as 12,000 AOL volunteers to seek tens of millions of dollars in back pay for their work, according to their lawyers. The volunteers are seeking the minimum wage for their efforts. AOL gave volunteers free online time, discounts at the AOL employee store and free antivirus software.
In a 32-page opinion allowing the case to proceed, U.S. District Judge Kevin Duffy rejected AOL's argument that the volunteers can't be considered "employees" under federal law. AOL spokesman Nicholas Graham said, "AOL continues to vigorously contest the underlying case."
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same story from the honolulu, hawaii star bulletin:Judge denies AOL bid to dismiss lawsuit
NEW YORK » A judge denied a request by Time Warner, Inc.'s America Online unit to dismiss a suit filed in New York by volunteer "community leaders" who claim they deserved to be paid for helping run chat rooms and other online forums.
"Plaintiffs maintain that these online communities enabled AOL to retain and attract subscribers and allowed it to reap profits from advertising," U.S. District Judge Kevin Duffy, wrote in a 32-page opinion rejecting AOL's argument that the volunteers can't be considered "employees" under federal law.
The decision removes a hurdle for as many as 12,000 AOL volunteers to seek tens of millions of dollars in back pay for their work, according to their lawyers.
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