A Jamaican model is suing Donald Trump’s modeling agency for breach of contract after the agency flew her to the U.S. with promises of a glamorous lifestyle and $75K a year salary.
Alexia Palmer was only 17 when Trump Model Management LLC brought her to the U.S. from Jamaica on a H-1B work-visa application in 2011.
In court documents, Palmer accused Trump’s agency of lying on the application, saying she would be paid a $75,000-a-year salary while working for the agency.
But Palmer says she only received $3,880.75 over 3 years.
In her lawsuit, Palmer, who is now 22, alleges she received just $3,880.75 in wages over the three years she was under contract with Trump’s agency.
Palmer’s lawsuit, which was filed in 2014, alleges “fraudulent misrepresentation” and violations of U.S. immigration and labor laws.
She is asking for $225,000 in back pay. The lawsuit accuses Trump Management LLC of taking 80% of her wages by deducting expenses such as phone bills, postage, food, housing, and limousine costs.
But Trump’s attorney, Lawrence Rosen, called the lawsuit “frivolous” and “without merit,” saying, “At the end of the day, this model just didn’t have a successful career, and we fully expect to win.”
Rosen noted that Palmer signed the contract agreeing to reimburse Trump Model Management LLC “for any and all costs and expenses” incurred by the agency relating to her modeling.
Trump is not named in the lawsuit.
Interest in the long dormant lawsuit was renewed by NY’s liberal anti-Trump media now that Trump is the GOP front runner.
Palmer’s attorneys are seeking other models who may have been brought to the U.S. by Trump’s agency then stiffed on their wages.
A judge will determine whether to proceed with the class action lawsuit by the end of March.
