The Fee-Related Talent Services Law (Lab. Code 1701 et seq.) requires talent service companies that provide artists with audition listings or employment opportunities to post a bond and include certain provisions in their contracts with artists. Defendant operated a computer service that linked performing artists with composers and songwriters. Plaintiff paid $300 to sign up for defendant’s services for a year. He filed this suit when he discovered that defendant had not posted the required bond and its contract lacked some of the legally required terms. Held, summary judgment was properly entered for defendant. Violation of the FRTS Law merely makes a contract in violation of its terms voidable upon the artist’s written notice but grants an artist no in court remedy absent damages suffered as a result of the violation. Here, plaintiff didn’t try to void his contract before filing suit and could not show he suffered any damage from any of the defendant’s violations. For the same reason, he lacked standing to sue defendant under the UCL.
California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 5 (Baker, J.); March 27, 2018; 2018 WL 1477522