The reality star is sued by his former talent agency ICM for allegedly owing $370k in commissions from a deal to star on the MTV show, but his lawyer insists the agency has been paid for its service.
- Apr 13, 2012
AceShowbiz - DJ Pauly D has earned a lot of money for his stint on "Jersey Shore" and his former talent agency, International Creative Management (ICM), is now demanding its cut of the paycheck he received for the last two seasons. The agency has sued the guido for allegedly refusing to hand over commissions from a deal to star on the MTV show.
According to the lawsuit filed on Thursday, April 12 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Pauly D received around $4 million dollars for "Jersey Shore" seasons 4 and 5 combined. ICM claimed the reality star, whose real name is Paul DelVecchio, owes the agency $370,000 in back commission for the past two seasons of the show, plus 10 percent of whatever he makes in season six.
The papers filed by the agency further detail MTV paid Pauly D $100,000 per episode for season 4, plus a $400,000 signing bonus. He allegedly also received $107,037 for contractual participations and a $200,000 "thank you" bonus, bringing his compensation for the fourth season to more than $1.9 million.
The disc jockey allegedly got a raise in season 5, receiving $150,000 per episode. Added with the compensation for after-shows, reunion shows, merchandising, etc., the 31-year-old is said to be entitled to $2.1 million from the fifth season. The amount that he receives will get bigger for the upcoming season 6 since he will reportedly get another bump to $175,000 for each episode.
Pauly D parted ways with ICM in May 2011. Though so, the agency insists it is "entitled to post-termination commissions on all deals they negotiate" on behalf of the television personality. "No deed goes unpunished, however, and DelVecchio ultimately terminated the representation," ICM notes in its complaint.
Responding to the lawsuit, Pauly D's lawyer Hillary Hughes says in a statement, "We are surprised by ICM's contention that it is due commissions after ICM was terminated in favor of William Morris Endeavor. ICM was paid for its services."
The lawyer adds, "It is even more disappointing that an agency like ICM would choose to take advantage of its former relationship with a client and disclose his confidential business affairs to the public in disregard of any duties it owes as a talent agency."
