Yoo

Howard Wolf brought this action to recover a commission allegedly due him under a personal management contract with Paul Robi, one of the original members of the legendary singing group The Platters. The trial court awarded judgment to Robi. Wolf and Robi both filed timely appeals. The principal issues in Wolf’s appeal are whether Wolf violated the Talent Agencies Act (Lab. Code § 1700 et seq.) by procuring performance engagements for Robi without being licensed as a talent agency and, if so, whether such violation of the Act bars Wolf’s recovery of a commission for procuring a recording engagement for Robi—an activity which the Act specifically exempts from the license requirement. In Robi’s cross-appeal we must decide whether an appeal from a determination by the Labor Commissioner of a controversy arising under the Act may be filed in a pending superior court action between the parties to the controversy or must be initiated by a separate, independent action.

We conclude substantial evidence supports the trial court’s finding Wolf procured performance engagements for Robi in violation of the Act thus rendering his contracts with Robi void and barring his recovery of a…