Oksana Baiul sues William Morris Endeavor Agency (threads merged)

[Badams]

http://www.tmz.com/2012/11/20/oksana...ish-contracts/

In the suit, filed in the L.A. County Superior Court, Baiul claims that because she didn't understand the contracts ... she didn't realize that she had unintentionally allowed WME to distribute portions of her earnings to people with whom she claims she has no relationship

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2012/11/20/oksana...#ixzz2CogaS8lj

[LEO59]

http://www.tmz.com/2012/11/20/oksana...ish-contracts/



Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2012/11/20/oksana...#ixzz2CogaS8lj

Here is more from "The Hollywood Reporter"

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr...skating-393336

[jenniferlyon]

Wouldn't her age at the time be more of an issue than her lack of English proficiency? An adult would know better than to sign a contract in a foiregn language without hiring a lawyer who knows both languages. A 16-year-old kid wouldn't have a clue, especially a recent arrival from the former Soviet Union.

[Sabasushi]

Also, who was her guardian at the time, if she had any?

[overedge]

Also, who was her guardian at the time, if she had any?

IIRC her coach Galina Zmievskaya was her legal guardian in the US.

[Alex Forrest]

I will try to restrain myself. Galina, her "coach" and "mother surrogate" took 30%, then Oksana's agent's/PR took another 30%. OFF THE TOP. Before taxes. She made very little. I thought she was with Lipinski's agent Mike Burg at the time?

I think it is horrible that a 16 y/o depended on Galina and the ones she was paying a percentage when she's in a new country, can't even speak the language. But I guess that's how business is in the USA. Her DWI wasn't a help, but I never thought she ever had help. Christ she was a 12 y/o orphan for all she knew. All she knew was the ice rink.. I'm glad she won Oly gold. Her life is a story about survival. 100% in her corner.

[GarrAarghHrumph]

Oksana has sued her agents, William Morris Endeavor, claiming they withheld funds:

http://www.inquisitr.com/407202/oksa...-her-finances/

She also claims that they took advantage of her poor English and inserted things into her contracts which caused some of her earnings to be diverted.

[love_skate2011]

I blame Galina

[Iceman]

When she signed with Farina in 2011, they announced she was embarking on a Global return after four years of semi-retirement.
Anyone know how that turned out.

[Southpaw]

Good grief, did she actually sign that contract without an English speaking attorney advocating for her interests and explaining the contract language to her??? If she did it really sucks that only now is she realizing what a mistake THAT was.

[euterpe]

I think Oksana has run out of money.

[Sylvia]

When she signed with Farina in 2011, they announced she was embarking on a Global return after four years of semi-retirement.
Anyone know how that turned out.

August 2012 news posted on the Farina Company website:
http://www.farinaco.com/index.php?op...news&Itemid=63
Excerpt from the beginning:

BAIUL-FARINA Enterprises presents...

RUSSALIA, an Original Live Entertainment Theatrical Production, Created by CARLO J. FARINA with Producing partner "Queen Of The Ice" OKSANA BAIUL, set to launch in 2013!

RUSSALIA is an original live theatrical entertainment production, Created, Developed & Executive Produced by Carlo J. Farina for CARLO J. FARINA Entertainment, in partnership with Oksana Baiul, through their Baiul-Farina Enterprises.

[Coco]

I don't doubt she was taken advantage of financially. I hope she gets a fair shake in all of this.

[Jenny]

I thought she was with Lipinski's agent Mike Burg at the time?

Wasn't Tara Modlin also Oksana's manager for a time?

[GoGreen]

I wonder what is the normal % an agent take? 30% does seemed a lot.

[victoriaheidi]

Agents take 10%. 30% is outrageous. And another 30% to Galina? She got screwed. How crummy that a 16-year-old orphan without English language skills had no one advocating for her.

[GarrAarghHrumph]

Agents get 10%. But if the person is her "manager", there is no set percentage.

[Alex Forrest]

Agents take 10%. 30% is outrageous. And another 30% to Galina? She got screwed. How crummy that a 16-year-old orphan without English language skills had no one advocating for her.

Yes, I was getting ahead of myself. Agents usually take from 10-15% commission, but then you have publicists, managers, etc. It was rumored that Galina was getting 30-40%, but I'm not sure if that was at the same time as the management with someone else, though it was supposedly Mike Burg who arranged the $1.5M deal for her competitions right after Lillehamer, and Galina was absolutely in the picture at the time. So both got a piece of her.

[overedge]

August 2012 news posted on the Farina Company website:
http://www.farinaco.com/index.php?op...news&Itemid=63

Look at this company's list of clients. One of these things is not like the others....

http://farinaco.com/index.php?option...=article&id=53

Oksana might have been ripped off by previous managers when she didn't know any better, but surely she should be more savvy now. And given this company's apparent expertise with skating shows and representing skaters (ie, none), it looks like she's headed for another financial mess.

[Southpaw]

Manager dude is her boyfriend

Having spent 14 years in a Cliffside Park high-rise, Baiul is enjoying being surrounded by nature on her private estate in Pennsylvania. She moved to rural Pennsylvania in early March with her boyfriend/manager Carlo Farina.

http://www.northjersey.com/community....html?page=all