In a rare referral last month, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Peter Sherwood wrote a letter suggesting the prosecutor look at a $30 million class-action lawsuit filed by eight male and female models against Next Model Management, Wilhelmina Models, Ford Models and other firms over photograph usage fees.
“Because the above referenced case may involve matters in the public interest, the case is being brought to your attention,” Sherwood wrote March 3.
“Plaintiffs, who are (or were) professional models, allege that New York modeling agencies failed to pay them usage extension fees to which they are entitled,” the judge wrote.
The models claim their images are used in advertisements without their knowledge long after their contracts with the firms have ended.
They say the modeling agencies — or sometimes advertising agencies — sell the photos and then keep all of the money, without letting the models know.
