WTMX afternoon host Chris Petlak succeeded Ferguson as host of the morning show on The Mix in January. The decision mirrors another federal judges earlier decision dismissing McGurrens defamation claim against Hubbard. our stories straight," and advised her to "stay silent and to deny any allegations by other women that Ferguson had engaged in inappropriate behavior," according to the lawsuit. The breakup came less than a year after the ubiquitous duo known as "Eric & Kathy" were inducted in the Radio Hall of Fame. Shes been with WTMX 101.9 The Mix, for a long time, and suddenly shes gone. 10 Things You Didnt Know about The Sticklers, Luann de Lesseps Accuses Russell Simmons of Groping Her, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Mariana Jasel, 10 Things You Didnt Know About Leo Sheng, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Lele Pons, Being a Movie Superhero Doesnt Always Mean Your Kids Will Like It, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Rila Fukushima, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Asya Branch, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Tricia Ana, Guy Builds Insane Star Trek Man Cave Theater, This Clever Never-Ending LEGO Climber Automaton. Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission was an opinion and therefore did not constitute defamation. McGurren filed her own federal lawsuit against Hubbard shortly afterward. Jan 27, 2022 Help create big change for the pets and people in our community. McGurren alleged management did nothing about her concerns, then forced her out in December. You have permission to edit this article. McGurren and her agent, attorney Steve Mandell, declined requests for comment. The announcement, made Thursday, comes months after McGurren mysteriously left her morning. Thank you so much. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. For the second time, a federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit related to the way Hubbard Radio Chicago handled misconduct allegations against onetime star host Eric Ferguson. Ferguson, 55, has denied the allegations but was sidelined from his popular morning show in October 2021, weeks after the Tribune first reported that DeNicolo had sued him earlier that year. At least four women have accused Ferguson of misconduct, which led the host of "Eric In the Morning" to leave the station last October. PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 6, 2021 - Audacy announced a new morning show for US99 (WUSN-FM) in Chicago, welcoming local media veteran Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff as morning show co-hosts. A statement released by the company alludes to a contract extension offer it says McGurren turned down, but it provided no other details. The court agrees with Hubbard that the statements have nothing to do with DeNicolos conduct on the job.. Starting Monday, she will host "Melissa and Austin" from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays with co-host Austin Huff, a radio producer and podcaster just in from St. Louis. Officials of the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station ended speculation today about McGurren's lengthy absenceand announced a parting of the ways. McGurren had argued that when the station owner made its statement, it knew that Ferguson was a serial abuser of women and that Hubbard knowingly published false information when it said it did not agree with her characterization of events. Facebook gives people the. Such complaints are confidential, but her allegations later became public in a court filing that was part of DeNicolos defamation lawsuit. Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. Veteran Chicago radio personality Melissa McGurrens effort to revive her $10 million defamation suit against Hubbard Radio has ended. McGurren left the station in 2020 and alleged in the lawsuit that the station was intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissa's characterization of events.". The rest of the station's lineup remains intact, with New York-based Katie Neal from noon to 3 p.m., Scotty Kay from 3 to 7 p.m. and Detroit-based Rob Stone and Holly Hutton from 7 p.m. to midnight. -. She loves that they listen to her, that they reach out to her, and that they want to connect with her through their own stories. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. We are heartened by the fact that now two federal courts and an arbitrator have ruled in Hubbards favor and have concluded that the claims brought by Ms. McGurren and Ms. DeNicolo against Hubbard lacked any legal merit, attorney Michael Roche, a partner at Winston & Strawn who represented Hubbard Radio Chicago in the litigation, said in an emailed statement. She is a huge fan of different genres of music that would never be played on her own station. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her when they worked together. Melissa McGurren, who spent 22 years with WTMX-101.9-FM and co-hosted the Eric in the Morning with Ferguson, in 2020 filed suit against WTMX owner Hubbard Radio Chicago, claiming an email sent to her former coworkers implied she was lying about alleged abusive behavior by Ferguson. 0. She currently co-hosts mornings at Audacy crosstown country US99 WUSN. Being part of a morning show means shes sharing so much of her life with the people who listen. Shes a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. Both she and McGurren are represented by attorney Carmen Caruso. 1 talking about this. She also loves artists like the Foo Fighters. Guzman also provided McGurren with a window of time to amend her complaint and gave Hubbard 14 days to respond to her amended filing. Melissa McGurren, who worked for 22 years at the station, filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Hubbard Radio Chicago, claiming the company did not perform an investigation or conducted "a sham investigation" of her earlier allegations and that Hubbard attacked her credibility and integrity with comments it made to staff last week, the The arbitrator in McGurrens EEOC case ruled in Hubbards favor earlier this year. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. The judge also found that Hubbard did not cross the line because its statement expressed an opinion regarding McGurrens claim to the EEOC. McGurren also accused Ferguson of grossly abusing his power and that his behavior created a hostile work environment. She collaborated with the NFL, CDC, and Heads Up Football Program in 2012 and 2013. McGurren was one of three female former station employees to raise allegations about Ferguson in court filings after DeNicolo filed her lawsuits. In many ways, McGurren's departure was a replay of the drama that unfolded in 2017 when Kathy Hart severed ties with the station after 21 years as Ferguson's co-host. Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com. Thanks, you guys. Thank you for all those great messages. Audacy announced a new morning show for US99 (WUSN-FM) in Chicago, welcoming local media veteran Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff as morning show co-hosts. We take these allegations seriously and we are confident in the results of multiple investigations we have initiated, England said when announcing to staff that Ferguson would not be hosting mornings in October. McGurren brought the $10 million claim in October in response to an email in which the company told staff it had "thoroughly . It finished first among women between 35 and 64. Melissa McGurren co-hosted Eric Ferguson's morning show at WTMX-FM 101.9 before leaving the Chicago radio station in December 2020. Starting. She alleged her former employer had falsely branded her a liar when the company said in an email to staff that it had thoroughly investigated her EEOC complaint and did not agree with Melissas characterization of events.. oh and REINVENTION. The Mix and its corporate owners have been engaged in a coverup that is now exposed as a lie, Caruso told the Tribune. Believer of love, kindness, truth and honesty. Marci Braun continues as program director of US99 and regional brand manager of the country format for Audacy. McGurren then took her case to the U.S. Court of Appeals. 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He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. I love smooth jazz Christmas music. Overall the station ranked 13th with a 2.6 share and weekly cume of 710,900. Ferguson's former co-host, Melissa McGurren, filed the $10 million lawsuit last fall. She is such a proud mom. All four women alleged management protected him because of his shows high ratings. While so many people tend to move to Chicago from far away, she is not one of those people. Collectively, this roster will super serve Chicagos country music audience as the standalone country station in the market, Williamson said. A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this year. While McGurrens case against Hubbard has ended, a similar defamation lawsuit filed by Cynthia DeNicolo against the broadcaster continues to be litigated in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Honestly, let her not forget that. No reason was cited for the breakup, but reports persisted of friction between Ferguson and McGurren. "We're incredibly excited to be growing . You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. In her lawsuit against Ferguson, DeNicolo alleged that he blocked raises and promotions, then orchestrated her dismissal after she refused to resume a brief sexual relationship that occurred early in her career. Michael Jackson, for instance, is a huge favorite for her. But the remarks in Englands note, which soon after appeared in the press, did not rise to the level of defamation under Illinois state law, according to an order issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman dismissing the case. Shes a lot more local than most people assume. McGurren comes from Hubbard Broadcasting crosstown hot AC "101.9 FM The Mix" WTMX, where she spent more than two decades, first as a traffic reporter then as co-host of "Eric in the Morning." She has a son by the name of Porter, and she does share a little about him on her Instagram page from time to time. Im honored to wake up with this city every morning, and I cannot wait to have a ton of fun in the process.. Valderrama said the analysis in McGurrens lawsuit was applicable and persuasive in DeNicolos case because the companys published statements in both situations were similar. CHICAGO An Illinois District Court judge on Friday dismissed a $10 million defamation lawsuit by former Chicago radio host Melissa McGurren, who had filed suit against her former employer in . In the court filings made public Tuesday, McGurren said that during her 22-year career at The Mix she rose from traffic reporter to show co-host with Ferguson and Brian "Whip" Paruch, who she. CHICAGO An Illinois District Court judge on Friday dismissed a $10 million defamation lawsuit by former Chicago radio host Melissa McGurren, who had filed suit against her former employer in connection with sexual harassment allegations against her former co-host on The Mix, Eric Ferguson. :). Drew Walker, an 18-year veteran of US99 who most recently has been hosting mornings, returns to middays from 9 a.m. to noon. OK, love you all. She did promise her followers back in October that she would reveal him sooner or later, but shes yet to do so. In his ruling, Gomez cited the legal statute opinions that do not misstate facts are protected by the First Amendment and are non-actionable. Eric in the Morning is expected to continue with current contributors Violeta Podrumedic and Brian Whip Paruch and producer John Swany Swanson. Attorney Carmen Caruso, who represents both women, declined Tuesday to comment on Valderramas ruling. NAB Asks FCC to Complete 2018 Quadrennial Review, Laden Joins WABC/New York as News Director and Host, Audacy Launches ''Front Range Country 103.1'' in Denver, WPZS (Praise 100.9)/Charlotte Ups Melanie Pratt to APD, iHeartMedia's Podcast Platform Spreaker is Now Free, KINK-FM/Portland Adds ''The Greg Beharrell Show''. McGurren spent most of . But two weeks later, McGurrens lawyer filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of the appeal. The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. Until recently he also hosted a podcast on the site. Melissa McGurren, the pride of Portage, Indiana, who rose from traffic reporter to full-fledged co-host of Eric Ferguson's top-rated morning show, is out after more than two decades at WTMX. DeNicolo has also filed a separate $10 million defamation lawsuit against Hubbard Radio Chicago. We look forward to getting them under oath for questioning.. Huff, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and self-described country music fan, is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Representatives for Hubbard and Ferguson did not respond to requests for comment. Melissa McGurren won't be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but she's very famous in her own town. "I love Chicago and country music and I've never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit, as reported by the Tribune. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. In the suit, McGurren said the station falsely calls (her) a liar and attacks (her) integrity credibility when it said in a statement that it did not agree with McGurrens characterization of events in relation to Ferguson. May 6, 2021. She's been with WTMX 101.9 The. In the midst of her absence, some of her fans have even taken the time to post on social media that the show is no longer any good without her. It is humiliating to watch and dehumanizing to know that nothing can be done because the management at The Mix approved Fergusons misconduct by their silence in not reprimanding him., Ashrafis filing continued: This is one of many examples of microaggressions and suggestive comments women at The Mix are expected to endure (in addition to being underpaid and marginalized). "I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team," McGurren said in a statement. 13 talking about this. Melissa McGurren will co-host a new morning show on country station WUSN-FM 99.5 starting Monday. CHICAGO - A federal judge has dismissed Chicago radio host Melissa McGurren's defamation lawsuit against her former employer, Hubbard Radio Chicago, whom she alleged falsely branded her a liar. But, her cohosts have not said a word, and thats what has fans worried. I really truly am. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. Right now, thats a fair assessment. Nazareth won its fourth state trophy since 2019, and more importantly the programs first state title. Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more. Much like McGurren made allegations attached as a filing in another former WTMX employees suit, Ashrafi is using a similar legal maneuver. Chicago | Mornings @US99Chicago 6-9am SHOP Melissa's Amazon Favorites link below . A onetime producer of "The Jim Rome Show" for CBS Sports Radio, he owns and operatesKorkedBats.com,a comedy sports blog. In her defamation suit, McGurren, who worked for 22 years at WTMX, claimed Hubbard did not perform an investigation or conducted a sham investigation of her earlier harassment allegations against Ferguson and that Hubbard attacked her credibility and integrity with comments it made to staff about her allegations. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. England's October 5 email prompted McGurren to sue for defamation, alleging that his statement falsely branded her a liar by attacking her credibility and integrity. She described him as a serial abuser of women and said management failed to respond and then forced her out when she demanded that the alleged harassment stop. The Audacy station is pairing up Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff to host morning drive on WUSN-FM. Shes a huge Frank Sinatra fan, too. In court documents filed Oct. 5, McGurren called Ferguson a serial abuser of women and claimed that station management for years has protected Ferguson in allowing him to continue in perpetrating his misconduct that goes far beyond the limits of decency despite ample notice from me and many of my co-workers that Fergusons behavior is unlawful. McGurren went on to say that the long-running morning host has grossly abused his power, and his conduct was the major reason the station became a hostile working environment., Her accusations were submitted as supporting evidence in an amended defamation lawsuit brought by former WTMX Associate Producer Cynthia DeNicolo against Hubbard. Lefty reliever Brandon Hughes also has been on a later game schedule after a heavy workload last season. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. Last week U.S. District Court. Mom 1st. While she does not address the actual reason for her disappearance, she does make it clear that she and her family are all healthy and shes hopeful everyone stays that way. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, The Mix ranked third overall in mornings with a 7.3 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 390,600. Shes always wanted to be in the business, and she always wanted to do things like this that she loves so much. McGurren, the pride of Portage, Indiana, who rose from traffic reporter to co-host of Eric Ferguson's morning show at The Mix, has been off the air since she and the station parted company late last year. It all comes just as Ferguson is back from his latest surgery for spinal stenosis, a procedure involving spinal decompression and disc fusion. I know this is exactly where Im supposed to be, and I couldnt be happier to make this new move in my career.. They miss her, they want to see her back, and they are missing what she brings to the mix when shes on the air. Rachel Williamson, regional president and market manager of Audacy Chicago, said the team of McGurren and Huff "will bring energy, positivity, chemistry, and a lot of fun to this fresh and dynamic local show to serve Chicagos country listeners. While not claiming that Ferguson abused her specifically, Ashrafi said the disgraced morning host was rude and dismissive to women., His abusive behavior is open and known by all at The Mix, she said. Coldwell Banker Eric Ferguson, the longtime morning show host on WTMX-FM/101.9, sold his Hinsdale mansion for less than he paid for it. Melissa McGurren, the pride of Portage, Indiana, who rose from traffic reporter to full-fledged co-host of Eric Fergusons top-rated morning show, is out after more than two decades at WTMX 101.9-FM. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. How could we improve it? WTMX disc jockey Eric Ferguson speaks to Kaneland Middle School students in 2005. A hearing on Hubbards motion to dismiss was held Tuesday, Aug. 30 and the court is expected to issue an opinion on the motion soon. We thought wed look into her life and see whats up with her and the fact that shes been gone for months. Its an adjustment to have to talk about your life to so many people, but she loves that it allows her to connect to those around her. You have permission to edit this article. Join Facebook to connect with Melissa McGurren and others you may know. "Melissa and Austin" debuted on WUSN Monday, May 10, running from 6am-9am. Melissa McGurren, who worked for 22 years at the station, filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Hubbard Radio Chicago, claiming the company did not perform an investigation or conducted a sham investigation of her earlier allegations and that Hubbard attacked her credibility and integrity with comments it made to staff last week, the Chicago Tribune reports. A former assistant producer for Ferguson, Cynthia DeNicolo, had alleged the company defamed her last year by stating it found no evidence to corroborate her allegations that Ferguson engaged in illegal workplace conduct at WTMX-FM 101.9. McGurren claimed in her filing that the station's management protected Ferguson for years by allowing him to "perpetuate his misconduct that goes far beyond the limits of decency." View the profiles of people named Melissa McGurren. But in a Nov. 28 written opinion, U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama of the Northern District of Illinois found the statements were nonactionable and did not defame DeNicolo. We were disappointed by her decision not to renew her contract, but also know that this year has led all of us to assess our lives in different ways. Melissa McGurren, who was a mainstay of Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM for 22 years, has been hired by Audacy country WUSN 99.5-FM to lead a new morning show, Robert Feder writes. Thanks for reading! His name is actually Brian Paruch, but hes been called Whip for more than a decade. "A thorough investigation would have uncovered that Jennifer Ashrafi brought many of these same issues, that corroborate Melissa's 'characterization of events,' to England in January, 2020, months before Melissa filed her charge" with the EEOC. Tell us what's wrong with this post? Cheryl Corley, Greg Kot win Headline Club Lifetime Achievement Awards, My childhood dream became the honor of a lifetime, Robservations: Sun-Times moving to Old Post Office; ABC 7 opens weekend anchor slot; Medill tracks local news decline, Robservations: StreetWise raises cover price; Sventoonie takes a break; Friends of Chicago Reporter mark 50. By. The accusations of sexual harassment and abuse of power levied against Eric Ferguson continue to pile up as a fourth accuser has come forward, while the station he hosts mornings at, Hubbard hot AC 101.9 The Mix WTMX Chicago, is hit with a $10 million lawsuit from a former co-host of Fergusons. The suit against Ferguson states that in 2004 she stopped providing oral sex in response to his demands, which he allegedly made by using the code words I need a back rub. She said Ferguson taunted her with the phrase throughout her remaining tenure at the station. Shes dating someone right now, and apparently, his name is Jim. Violeta Podrumedic, Brian Whip Paruch, Melissa McGurren and Eric Ferguson. Jeff England, vice president and market manager at Hubbard Radio Chicago, was quoted as saying: Our plans for the future of Eric in the Morning definitely included Melissa. Guzman denied a motion to reconsider the case in April and denied McGurrens motion to amend her complaint on June 30. The judge on Friday ruled that the station's statement regarding a complaint made by McGurren to the U.S. McGurren, who claimed the company defamed her when it responded to her harassment charges against former Mix co-host Eric Ferguson, filed an amended appeal July 29 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh District. WUSN-FM (US99)/Chicago morning co-host Melissa McGurren has filed a defamation lawsuit against her former employer, crosstown Hubbard Radio, reports the Chicago Tribune.On Thursday, she alleged that WTMX-FM (The Mix) management perpetuated a culture of discrimination to protect cash cows such as its morning host Eric Ferguson "at any cost." Melissa McGurren wont be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but shes very famous in her own town. After taking Ferguson off the air last October following a series of allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power by former female co-workers, Hubbard parted ways with the morning host last November. According to the newspaper, the suit includes a declaration as an exhibit from another former employee, Jennifer Ashrafi, who said she left as the station's afternoon co-host in January, 2020 because she was so "disgusted" by the "misogyny, gender discrimination and hostile work environment that was pervasive" at the station. Heres a fun fact: Shes been writing and creating her own radio shows since she was a little girl of only 8.
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