TV star Jon Gosselin countersues TLC citing child labor laws

By BRETT ZONGKER , Associated Press

Last update: November 13, 2009 - 5:02 PM

WASHINGTON - Jon Gosselin has filed a counter lawsuit against the TLC network, claiming television producers violated Pennsylvania's child labor laws in filming the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and are preventing him from working.

The suit seeks more than $5 million in damages. It was filed Thursday in Maryland in response to a network lawsuit alleging Gosselin failed to meet his obligations as an employee.

Gosselin's attorney Mark Jay Heller says the network had the family sign a complicated deal in 2005 without the advice of a lawyer. He says the contract paid the family $2,000 per episode and didn't pay the eight children. Heller says the network also failed to obtain child work permits.

A TLC spokeswoman says the network won't comment.

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