DeNicolo was laid off from the station in May 2020 after a nearly 20-year career. When he stepped down after 25 years at the station, Ferguson said in a statement that he was energized to move forward and defend myself against claims made against me and the station.. McGurren filed her own federal lawsuit against Hubbard shortly afterward. 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. 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. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois But we also owe it to ourselves and our listeners to have a deliberate and thoughtful process about our path forward, and candidly we are not there yet.. 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. 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. Former WTMX radio host Melissa McGurren's $10 million defamation suit McGurren then took her case to the U.S. Court of Appeals. She's seeking $10 million in damages. On Aug. 16, the appeals court issued a mandate dismissing the case. US99 Chicago Launches New Morning Show. Melissa McGurren (@melissamcgurren) / Twitter Violeta Podrumedic, Brian Whip Paruch, Melissa McGurren and Eric Ferguson. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit, as reported by the Tribune. 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. I love smooth jazz Christmas music. 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." Shes a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. They miss her, they want to see her back, and they are missing what she brings to the mix when shes on the air. Right now, thats a fair assessment. At least four women have accused Ferguson of misconduct, which led the host of "Eric In the Morning" to leave the station last October. In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her when they worked together. We wish her the best.. DeNicolo, a former WTMX assistant producer, claims Hubbard defamed her in statements it made to the Chicago Tribune after the newspaper first reported on her original suit against Ferguson. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. 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. But, her cohosts have not said a word, and thats what has fans worried. McGurren first made her accusations in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, shortly after leaving the station in December 2020. Melissa McGurren Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against She collaborated with the NFL, CDC, and Heads Up Football Program in 2012 and 2013. After McGurren left WTMX, in December 2020, she filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. 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. Melissa McGurren wont be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but shes very famous in her own town. He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. 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. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. McGurren alleged management did nothing about her concerns, then forced her out in December. By. Shes been gone from the program long enough that her fans have been a little worried. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. 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. 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. "I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team," McGurren said in a statement. 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. Owner of 'The Mix' didn't defame former assistant who accused host Eric Officials of the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station ended speculation today about McGurren's lengthy absenceand announced a parting of the ways. 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. The announcement, made Thursday, comes months after McGurren mysteriously left her morning. Thanks, you guys. McGurren called Ferguson a serial abuser of women, station management pulled Ferguson off the air, a separate $10 million defamation lawsuit against Hubbard Radio. McGurren, who worked for the WTMX-FM for 22 years, alleged in the suit that the station defamed her in choosing not to side with her in her complaints of sexual harassment by Ferguson. Thank you for all those great messages. It's hard to choose, they all sound so great. McGurren was one of three female former station employees to raise allegations about Ferguson in court filings after DeNicolo filed her lawsuits. May 6, 2021. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free. Much like McGurren made allegations attached as a filing in another former WTMX employees suit, Ashrafi is using a similar legal maneuver. Tuesdays comment of the day: Rita Buda: I can't wait to listen to Rick O'Dell's top 12 smooth jazz Christmas tunes. WTMX promoted Chris Petlak from afternoons to mornings, effective Jan. 24. Guzman also provided McGurren with a window of time to amend her complaint and gave Hubbard 14 days to respond to her amended filing. Moving to Chicago was a natural move for her. How could we improve it? Heres a fun fact: Shes been writing and creating her own radio shows since she was a little girl of only 8. McGurren also accused Ferguson of grossly abusing his power and that his behavior created a hostile work environment. 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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. -. "The Mix is sad to announce that after 22 years with the station, Melissa McGurren was offered a contract extension which much to our surprise she declined," the statement said. Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. Executives from the radio station said at the time they were surprised McGurren declined a contract extension. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Robservations: WGN Radio names Steve Alexander to succeed Orion Samuelson, 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. "We're incredibly excited to be growing . A federal judge this week dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a former co-host of one of Chicagos top morning drive radio shows over alleged harassment by star Eric Ferguson. Feder: US99 hires Melissa McGurren to host mornings - Daily Herald In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, US99 tied for 15th in mornings with a 2.0 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 250,800. decision dismissing McGurrens defamation claim, Column: For the Chicago Blackhawks remodel to work, their new house had better be built on a strong foundation, Merrillville food and beverage tax edging closer to reality, Remains found in Rockdale more than 25 years ago identified as Aurora woman, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. She's been with WTMX 101.9 The. Guzman again, disagreed, saying that the statement was an opinion based on its position rather than a statement of facts. She is very proud of the young man her son is becoming, she loves that he is funny and helpful and that he is thoughtful. A thorough investigation would have uncovered that Jennifer Ashrafi brought many of these same issues, that corroborate Melissas characterization of events, to England in January 2020, months before Melissa filed her charge with the EEOC. After studying business in college, Tiffany embarked upon a career she never dreamed of. 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. She also loves artists like the Foo Fighters. Representatives for Hubbard and Ferguson did not respond to requests for comment.