Roadie Complains of Pot Smoke on Band Bus

[The Straight Story]

Roadie Complains of Pot Smoke on Band Bus

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - A long-time roadie sued Chris Isaak, claiming the bandleader fired him for protesting the mistreatment of women and the choking clouds of marijuana smoke on the tour bus.

Lane Hirsch also sued H. Powell Inc., H.K. Management and Tim Lamb, on 17 causes of action, in Superior Court. Charges include discrimination, wrongful firing, defamation, retaliation and Labor Code violations.

Hirsch says he worked for Isaak for 17 years, as a lighting designer and technician.

He claims Isaak and his management misclassified him as a salaried employee, to duck overtime payments and other labor laws.
Hirsch claims things got bad in 2010, when Isaak hired Tim Lamb as tour production manager. Just two women worked on the tour that year, according to the complaint.

"Lamb repeatedly told these women (and announced to others) that 'a woman's place is not on tour' and that 'girls are meant to stay home where they belong,'" Hirsch says in the complaint. "Lamb would frequently yell at both women, chastising them until they broke into tears. Lamb specifically referred to one of the women as a 'cunt' and as a 'bitch.'"

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/03/14/55713.htm

[RZM]

1. So one of them doesn't want drugs on the bus and the other doesn't want women there

And they work in rock and roll?

[Initech]

3. Ha, I was wondering the same thing!

[RobinA]

10. My Thoughts Exactly

If it's come to this I think I've lived too long.

[snooper2]

2. I thought he was like a one-hit-wonder?

He does tours still LOL

[pinboy3niner]

4. He sings hits like (appropriateley here) 'We Lost Our Way' and 'Courthouse'

[hobbit709]

5. It took 17 years to notice the smoke on the bus?

[MattBaggins]

6. perfectly legitimate complaints

An employee has a right to a non hazardous working environment and to be free from sexual harassment and discrimination.

Solid case.

[snooper2]

8. you are right, you know that these actors

had to sign releases before this scene was shot?

[sufrommich]

7. This whole article ,except for one or two

sentences,is about women being mistreated and abused on the tour. What an odd headline.

[gollygee]

9. It sounds like the biggest issue is that he was mistreated

And there was a lot of homophobia and sexism there, but that he complained about the pot smoke and thinks he was fired as retribution, if I'm reading that story right. Anyway, it's about more than pot, and I think he has a legitimate concern. He was treated very badly, complained about something, was threatened that it would ruin his ability to ever work anywhere, and then fired him without notice after telling him is job was safe.

[L0oniX]

11. Oh ...I thought this would be a Willie Nelson or Snoop thread. n/t

[JaneyVee]

12. Totally was NOT expecting this to be about Chris Isaak.

[Berlum]

13. "You are either on the bus or off the bus." - KK

Hello?

[hourglass1]

14. Lane Hirsch is a lighting director not a roadie

1. females were being verbally abused / lane reported abuse to mngt
2. all occupants of a vehicle get arrested for pot smoking where it is illegal - he repeatedly asked that it not be smoked in the vehicle ...
3. he stood up for the ladies and against the tactics of lamb (hired 2010) to rid the tour of those he could replace with past cronies - (ps. not that it matters, but lane is married to a former isaak groupie)
4. how do i know this? i know lane well and i witnessed harrassment at a show in hawaii ...