On March 31, 2016 to the shock of the fashion industry, Jed Root inc closed it's doors. This world renowned agency represented hundreds of photographers, stylists, makeup and hair artists, prop stylists from offices around the world and had been one of the industry leaders in management for close to 30 years.

It has now left countless numbers of artists, vendors and businesses unpaid. The money owed runs well into the the millions and we have reason to believe that we have been the victims of fraud resulting from a sale of the agency in 2015 to Oliver Fietcher owner of RPRT Group based in Switzerland. This deal was not done openly and only revealed to the artists well after the fact. and their contracts were transferred without their knowledge or approval. After the sale all monies collected by the agency on behalf of the artists was rerouted to RPRT in Switzerland and very little of it returned.

The agency business model thrives and makes revenue through the talent and hard work of the artists that the agency represents. The artists are not employees but considered contractors. The agency charges the client an agency fee and takes care of billing and is contractually obligated to disburse the artists fees to the artists promptly. In the case of Jed Root / RPRT Group there has been a gross mishandling of the billing and paying of monies to the rightful parties who have earned the money.

The veiling of corporate handling and selling of Jed Root inc. to RPRT group and mismanagement of funds belonging to artists and vendors calls for a prompt investigation into financial activity and fraud. It also calls for an end to RPRT groups continued collection or handling of former Jed Root inc artist's monies. Any contractual obligations this company may try to exert over any artists that has been robbed of their fees and reimbursements from their clients as a result of this mismanagement should end immediately. We as individuals have been wronged not only financially, but continue to be threatened in our livelihoods by the wrongful pursuit of our monies by RPRT and their continued harassment of clients we have spent years building relationships with.

We call for attention and justice to this matter from all who are able to help .Individual businesses, lives and families have been greatly affected and we need to expose this international corporate crime for what it was and help to set a precedent in the industry and for freelance workers as a whole.