Buffalo Bills’ Cheerleaders Suspend Operations Following Lawsuit

The Buffalo Bills’ cheerleaders have suspended operations following a lawsuit from five former cheerleaders.

The suit filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming they were underpaid and mistreated.

The lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court, says the cheerleaders worked hundreds of hours for free at games and were subjected to groping and sexual comments at mandatory public appearance. One said they had to take a jiggle test so their boss could see how firm their bodies were.

The former cheerleaders also allege that the “Jills” are wrongly classified as independent contractors and are subjected to policies that violate the state’s $8 per hour minimum wage law and other workplace rules. The civil action, which seeks unspecified back pay and legal fees, names Stejon Productions Corp., which assumed management of the Jills in 2011, along with former manager Citadel Communications Co., and the team.

The lawsuit is third filed this year against an NFL team by cheerleaders. The Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals also have pending wage battles.

Lawyer Frank Dolce, who represents the five cheerleaders, said the decision to suspend operations won’t affect his case because it addresses past complaints.

Dolce, however, did question Mateczun’s motives, saying her decision to suspend the squad was unnecessary.

“If they cease operations, they will blame the lawsuit for the destruction of the Jills, when that was not intended at all,” Dolce said, noting there is not much money at stake in the lawsuit.

“We love the Bills. We love the Jills,” he said. “We do not love the travesty of its management that has occurred over the last few years.”