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Former WTMX Morning Co-Host Melissa McGurren Files $10 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Hubbard. We wish her the best.. You have permission to edit this article. Heres a fun fact: Shes been writing and creating her own radio shows since she was a little girl of only 8. 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. Tiffany and her husband are the proud parents of four children in her free time. McGurren brought the $10 million claim in October in response to an email in which the company told staff it had "thoroughly . "I love Chicago and country music and I've never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. 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. She is such a proud mom. The Mix and its corporate owners have been engaged in a coverup that is now exposed as a lie, Caruso told the Tribune. 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. McGurren left the station in 2020 and alleged in the lawsuit that the station was intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. We look forward to getting them under oath for questioning.. 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. WTMX promoted Chris Petlak from afternoons to mornings, effective Jan. 24. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that alleged Ferguson had harassed her. She is a mother. The dismissal of Melissa McGurren's $10 million defamation lawsuit against Hubbard Radio Chicago doesn't mean the end of legal problems for Eric Ferguson or the parent company of hot adult . Guzman again, disagreed, saying that the statement was an opinion based on its position rather than a statement of facts. McGurren was one of three female former station employees to raise allegations about Ferguson in court filings after DeNicolo filed her lawsuits. similar defamation lawsuit filed by Cynthia DeNicolo, Hubbard parted ways with the morning host. Such complaints are confidential, but her allegations later became public in a court filing that was part of DeNicolos defamation lawsuit. She grew up in Portage, Indiana, which is not too far. Whatever Happened to Brian Buckner from Barnwood Builders? Drew Walker, an 18-year veteran of US99 who most recently has been hosting mornings, returns to middays from 9 a.m. to noon. The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. 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. She currently co-hosts mornings at Audacy crosstown country US99 WUSN. 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? It all comes just as Ferguson is back from his latest surgery for spinal stenosis, a procedure involving spinal decompression and disc fusion. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. Until recently he also hosted a podcast on the site. Melissa McGurren Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against Hubbard. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. 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. 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. She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for [] 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. She did promise her followers back in October that she would reveal him sooner or later, but shes yet to do so. 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 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. 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. 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. His name is actually Brian Paruch, but hes been called Whip for more than a decade. Thanks for reading! 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. 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. Honestly, let her not forget that. 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. But two weeks later, McGurrens lawyer filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of the appeal. Nazareth won its fourth state trophy since 2019, and more importantly the programs first state title. Englands internal email is an informational communication to Plaintiffs former coworkers and defendants current employees, Guzman wrote. Melissa McGurren will co-host a new morning show on country station WUSN-FM 99.5 starting Monday. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. Officials of the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station ended speculation today about McGurren's lengthy absenceand announced a parting of the ways. Thanks, you guys. In response to McGurrens earlier claims, VP/Market Manager Jeff England said in an email to staff that the company thoroughly investigated this matter previously. McGurren alleged management did nothing about her concerns, then forced her out in December. The judges ruling is with prejudice, meaning DeNicolo cannot file an amended complaint. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. She reiterated that position in a demand for arbitration filed June 24, 2021. A separate lawsuit she filed against Ferguson remains active. Shes a huge Frank Sinatra fan, too. What really has fans upset is that no one has addressed her disappearance from the show. "I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team," McGurren said in a statement. 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 radio host Melissa McGurren on Thursday accused her former employer, Hubbard Radio Chicago, of defamation in a new lawsuit that includes fresh allegations that WTMX-FM management . Believer of love, kindness, truth and honesty. "We're incredibly excited to be growing . Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that Ferguson created an unbearably hostile work environment. 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.. "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. oh and REINVENTION. 1 talking about this. DeNicolo was laid off from the station in May 2020 after a nearly 20-year career. 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. In a four-page ruling issued by the United District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Judge Ronald A. Guzman granted Hubbard Radio Chicago petition to dismiss the suit brought by McGurren. US99 Chicago Launches New Morning Show. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissas characterization of events.. Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. 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. How would you rate this article? 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." Tell us what's wrong with this post? 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.