However, McGurren's suit states "Hubbard Radio's statement" that the company "thoroughly investigated" her allegations "is false." A separate lawsuit she filed against Ferguson remains active. The announcement, made Thursday, comes months after McGurren mysteriously left her morning. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. Her new role will make them direct competitors. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more. "We're incredibly excited to be growing . I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team, McGurren said in a statement. A second female former employee of WTMX-FM has come forward to say longtime on-air host Eric Ferguson engaged in sexually inappropriate conduct, alleging in a Thursday court filing that he groped. "I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team," McGurren said in a statement. 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. A statement released by the company alludes to a contract extension offer it says McGurren turned down, but it provided no other details. 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. May 6, 2021. McGurren had been with WTMX for 22 years serving as a traffic reporter until moving up to morning co-host following the departure of Kathy . 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. I want to just make sure that I wished everybody a happy belated Thanksgiving and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and miss you all. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. 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. The judges ruling is with prejudice, meaning DeNicolo cannot file an amended complaint. The Tribune also reports that McGurren, who co-hosted "Eric in the Morning" on The Mix, described Ferguson in a December complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a "serial abuser of women" who had subjected her to an "unbearable hostile work environment." McGurren brought the $10 million claim in October in response to an email in which the company told staff it had "thoroughly . Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. The judge also found that Hubbard did not cross the line because its statement expressed an opinion regarding McGurrens claim to the EEOC. Thanks for reading! "Drew [Walker] returns to late mornings and middays and will continue to bring the energy and companionship country listeners have grown to love to get them through their day. 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). DeNicolos position is that the statements not only accuse her of on-the-job malfeasance but also prejudice her in her trade and profession. Former WTMX Morning Co-Host Melissa McGurren Files $10 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Hubbard. We thought wed look into her life and see whats up with her and the fact that shes been gone for months. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois (Todd Rosenberg Photography) McGurren was offered a. Its actually good for the game, Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. McGurren said she quit the station in 2020 after years of complaining about Fergusons on- and off-air behavior, claims she said were ignored by station executives who sought to protect the popular host. 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. McGurren filed her own federal lawsuit against Hubbard shortly afterward. Collectively, this roster will super serve Chicagos country music audience as the standalone country station in the market, Williamson said. Shes a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit, as reported by the Tribune. Whatever Happened to Brian Buckner from Barnwood Builders? You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. Ferguson's former co-host, Melissa McGurren, filed the $10 million lawsuit last fall. No reason was cited for the breakup, but reports persisted of friction between Ferguson and McGurren. Melissa McGurren won't be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but she's very famous in her own town. A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this 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. 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 . McGurren then took her case to the U.S. Court of Appeals. oh and REINVENTION. She is such a proud mom. WTMX promoted Chris Petlak from afternoons to mornings, effective Jan. 24. Her writing gained recognition and since 2009, she's written for sites such as What to Expect, Where'd My Sanity Go, and dozens more. Jan 27, 2022 Help create big change for the pets and people in our community. The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. 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. oh and REINVENTION. They miss her, they want to see her back, and they are missing what she brings to the mix when shes on the air. WTMX disc jockey Eric Ferguson speaks to Kaneland Middle School students in 2005. She subsequently filed two lawsuits, one against Ferguson and the other against Hubbard. Not so, Valderrama wrote in his 20-page opinion and order. Fans have been worried. 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. DeNicolo also sued Ferguson, claiming he abused his power to coerce sexual favors from her early in her career and then prevented her from advancing after she rebuffed efforts to restart an unwanted sexual relationship.. 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. 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Moving to Chicago was a natural move for her. She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for [] By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. McGurren first made her accusations in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, shortly after leaving the station in December 2020. No reason was cited for the breakup, but reports persisted of friction between Ferguson and McGurren. Thank you for all those great messages. She has excellent taste. Theres still some major concerns. 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. In the defamation suit filed Thursday, she said Hubbard did not perform an investigation or conducted "a sham investigation" into her allegations, and the company attacked her credibility and integrity with comments it made last week to staff. 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. Chicago | Mornings @US99Chicago 6-9am SHOP Melissa's Amazon Favorites link below . Her new role will make them direct competitors. 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." She is a huge fan of different genres of music that would never be played on her own station. 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. 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. It finished first among women between 35 and 64. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty). Her writing has allowed her to visit NYC for Fashion Week events since 2015, and she's worked with clients in almost every field, from dentistry to law and family to entertainment. Mom 1st. Wednesdays comment of the day: Charles Schutt: Isn't joining NewsNation now pretty comparable to wanting a deckchair on the Andrea Doria or the Titanic AS they are going down? How would you rate this article? 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." Radio Ink. A onetime producer of "The Jim Rome Show" for CBS Sports Radio, he owns and operatesKorkedBats.com,a comedy sports blog. His ruling included three reasons why he was accepting the motion to dismiss by Hubbard. Last week U.S. District Court. What a fun thing to be able to grow up and make that happen for yourself. 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. Facebook gives people the. 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. "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. Overall the station ranked 13th with a 2.6 share and weekly cume of 710,900. Melissa McGurren will co-host a new morning show on country station WUSN-FM 99.5 starting Monday. 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.. I love Chicago and country music and Ive never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. MELISSA MCGURREN, who co-hosted "Eric in the Morning" during a 22-year stretch at the station, sued FERGUSON alleging a pattern of sexual misconduct. 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. Radio host Eric Ferguson works in the WTMX-FM studio with Melissa McGurren, center, and former co-host Kathy Hart in 2009. . She released a video to her own Facebook account that says shes sorry for her absence and that shes all right. We wish her the best.. Bye bye., Ferguson, who was not involved in the negotiations between Mandell and Hubbard, said: "I was surprised and disappointed when I heard the news, but I think it's important to be supportive when someone chooses to do something new in their life.". Guzman also provided McGurren with a window of time to amend her complaint and gave Hubbard 14 days to respond to her amended filing. Hubbard Radio/Chicago VP/Market Manager Jeff England said in a memo to employees on October 5 that the company "thoroughly investigated this matter previously. Such complaints are confidential, but her allegations later became public in a court filing that was part of DeNicolos defamation lawsuit. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. McGurren now hosts mornings on Audacy country station WUSN-FM 99.5. Shes a lot more local than most people assume. She became a stay-at-home mom and writer with her own blog. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free. In January 2020, I resigned after I lined up another job.. Typically, cohosts will announce if youve been on maternity leave, if you are taking personal time, traveling, whatever. It acknowledges the existence of plaintiffs pending EEOC claim, does not discuss particular facts, and simply indicates that the station has conducted its own investigations and does not agree with Plaintiffs characterization of events a classic statement of opinion.. 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 while responding to her harassment claims against former co-host Eric Ferguson. "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. After studying business in college, Tiffany embarked upon a career she never dreamed of. 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. In a declaration attached to McGurrens defamation suit, Ashrafi said the station was a hostile, humiliating atmosphere for female employees. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissa's characterization of events.". Englands internal email is an informational communication to Plaintiffs former coworkers and defendants current employees, Guzman wrote. 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. What really has fans upset is that no one has addressed her disappearance from the show. Shes a huge Frank Sinatra fan, too. Drew Walker, an 18-year veteran of US99 who most recently has been hosting mornings, returns to middays from 9 a.m. to noon. Last December Hubbard filed to have DeNicolos suit dismissed and to strike some of the allegations in her second amended complaint. You have permission to edit this article. The decision mirrors another federal judges earlier decision dismissing McGurrens defamation claim against Hubbard. McGurren currently works as a host at the country station, US99. She currently co-hosts mornings at Audacy crosstown country US99 WUSN. She collaborated with the NFL, CDC, and Heads Up Football Program in 2012 and 2013. Right now, thats a fair assessment. She is a mother. Melissa McGurren co-hosted Eric Ferguson's morning show at WTMX-FM 101.9 before leaving the Chicago radio station in December 2020. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. 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. Veteran Chicago radio personality Melissa McGurren's effort to revive her $10 million defamation suit against Hubbard Radio has ended. She's a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. Tell us what's wrong with this post? Much like McGurren made allegations attached as a filing in another former WTMX employees suit, Ashrafi is using a similar legal maneuver. A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this year. Eric in the Morning assistant producer Cynthia DeNicolowho also occasionally worked as a babysitter for Ferguson and his then-wifealso has sued the station, claiming Ferguson used his star power to coerce her into sex acts when she first began working for the station, and, for years after she began refusing his come-ons, taunted her in front of co-workers. In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her when they worked together. 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. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that alleged Ferguson had harassed her. 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. Being part of a morning show means shes sharing so much of her life with the people who listen. But two weeks later, McGurrens lawyer filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of the appeal. 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. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. She did promise her followers back in October that she would reveal him sooner or later, but shes yet to do so. Hes part of Melissas morning show. Melissa McGurren, 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 101.9-FM, Robert Feder writes. Tuesdays comment of the day: Rita Buda: I can't wait to listen to Rick O'Dell's top 12 smooth jazz Christmas tunes. 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. 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 "This far-reaching argument finds no support in the law," Guzman wrote in his decision. 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. 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. Honestly, let her not forget that. Im honored to wake up with this city every morning, and I cannot wait to have a ton of fun in the process.. 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. McGurren was one of three female former station employees to raise allegations about Ferguson in court filings after DeNicolo filed her lawsuits. "We're incredibly excited to be growing our US99 family and making mornings . She too was represented by Mandell. Ferguson stepped down as host of the popular show in October, amid outcry over McGurrens allegations and claims of sexual assault and workplace harassment made by other female employees of The Mix.. Valderrama said the analysis in McGurrens lawsuit was applicable and persuasive in DeNicolos case because the companys published statements in both situations were similar. 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. 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. I cant believe Justin Fields and I are moving to Chicago at the same time, especially considering he throws a much tighter spiral than me, Huff was quoted as saying. She is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires. McGurren alleged management did nothing about her concerns, then forced her out in December.

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