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 also accused Ferguson of grossly abusing his power and that his behavior created a hostile work environment. 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. She did promise her followers back in October that she would reveal him sooner or later, but shes yet to do so. Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. In a declaration attached to McGurrens defamation suit, Ashrafi said the station was a hostile, humiliating atmosphere for female employees. 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. You have permission to edit this article. The former morning show co-host at Hubbard hot AC "The Mix" WTMX Chicago has withdrawn her appeal of a federal court decision that dismissed the suit. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. She has excellent taste. "Melissa and Austin" debuted on WUSN Monday, May 10, running from 6am-9am. Last December Hubbard filed to have DeNicolos suit dismissed and to strike some of the allegations in her second amended complaint. Shes been with WTMX 101.9 The Mix, for a long time, and suddenly shes gone. Fans arent sure what happened, where she went, and how things are going for her right now, and we are curious ourselves. McGurren filed her own federal lawsuit against Hubbard shortly afterward. 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. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissas characterization of events.. But, her cohosts have not said a word, and thats what has fans worried. View the profiles of people named Melissa McGurren. 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." It all comes just as Ferguson is back from his latest surgery for spinal stenosis, a procedure involving spinal decompression and disc fusion. McGurren then took her case to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Melissa McGurren wont be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but shes very famous in her own town. The six-bedroom, eight-bath mansion on Elm Street sold May 29. 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. 0. The breakup came less than a year after the ubiquitous duo known as "Eric & Kathy" were inducted in the Radio Hall of Fame. 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. 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. 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. 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. Nazareth won its fourth state trophy since 2019, and more importantly the programs first state title. Violeta Podrumedic, Brian Whip Paruch, Melissa McGurren and Eric Ferguson. 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 brand-new morning show. The court agrees with Hubbard that the statements have nothing to do with DeNicolos conduct on the job.. What a fun thing to be able to grow up and make that happen for yourself. 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. 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. 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. A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this year. In a March 1 ruling, Judge Ronald Guzman found Hubbard Chicago VP/Market Manager Jeff Englands comments to be non-actionable statements of opinion that did not fall into any of the five categories that Illinois law deems to be defamatory. Melissa McGurren won't be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but she's very famous in her own town. He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. Eric in the Morning is expected to continue with current contributors Violeta Podrumedic and Brian Whip Paruch and producer John Swany Swanson. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. 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. 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. How could we improve it? Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit, as reported by the Tribune. Fans have been worried. 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 . After McGurren left WTMX, in December 2020, she filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. 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.. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. We dont know Jim, though, because she keeps his face out of all of her Instagram photos. 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. 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. A separate lawsuit she filed against Ferguson remains active. Officials of the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station ended speculation today about McGurren's lengthy absenceand announced a parting of the ways. 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.. Join Facebook to connect with Melissa McGurren and others you may know. 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. The arbitrator in McGurrens EEOC case ruled in Hubbards favor earlier this year. "This far-reaching argument finds no support in the law," Guzman wrote in his decision. 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. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. It's hard to choose, they all sound so great. -. Believer of love, kindness, truth and honesty. "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. The Mix and its corporate owners have been engaged in a coverup that is now exposed as a lie, Caruso told the Tribune. Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. I love smooth jazz Christmas music. 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. 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. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty). She subsequently filed two lawsuits, one against Ferguson and the other against Hubbard. Valderrama said the analysis in McGurrens lawsuit was applicable and persuasive in DeNicolos case because the companys published statements in both situations were similar. Shes been gone from the program long enough that her fans have been a little worried. The judge also found that Hubbard did not cross the line because its statement expressed an opinion regarding McGurrens claim to the EEOC. The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. The announcement, made Thursday, comes months after McGurren mysteriously left her morning. Moving to Chicago was a natural move for her. 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.". similar defamation lawsuit filed by Cynthia DeNicolo, Hubbard parted ways with the morning host. 1 talking about this. OK, love you all. Collectively, this roster will super serve Chicagos country music audience as the standalone country station in the market, Williamson said. I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team, McGurren said in a statement. Guzman also provided McGurren with a window of time to amend her complaint and gave Hubbard 14 days to respond to her amended filing. You have permission to edit this article. Not so, Valderrama wrote in his 20-page opinion and order. McGurren and her agent, attorney Steve Mandell, declined requests for comment. 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. A onetime producer of "The Jim Rome Show" for CBS Sports Radio, he owns and operatesKorkedBats.com,a comedy sports blog. WTMX afternoon host Chris Petlak succeeded Ferguson as host of the morning show on The Mix in January. 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. Shes always wanted to be in the business, and she always wanted to do things like this that she loves so much. Jan 27, 2022 Help create big change for the pets and people in our community. 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. Hes part of Melissas morning show. The decision mirrors another federal judges earlier decision dismissing McGurrens defamation claim against Hubbard. Representatives for Hubbard and Ferguson did not respond to requests for comment. 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. Drew Walker, an 18-year veteran of US99 who most recently has been hosting mornings, returns to middays from 9 a.m. to noon. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free. She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for [] Her coworker, Whip, calls her the secret weapon on their show. While so many people tend to move to Chicago from far away, she is not one of those people. 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. McGurren currently co-hosts mornings at Audacy crosstown country US99 WUSN. Shes a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. She currently co-hosts mornings at Audacy crosstown country US99 WUSN. Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com. 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. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. McGurren accused Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. "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. The Audacy station is pairing up Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff to host morning drive on WUSN-FM. 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. McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that Ferguson created an unbearably hostile work environment. 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. Veteran Chicago radio personality Melissa McGurren's effort to revive her $10 million defamation suit against Hubbard Radio has ended. 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. 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 . 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. 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. 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. In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her when they worked together. She grew up in Portage, Indiana, which is not too far. Im honored to wake up with this city every morning, and I cannot wait to have a ton of fun in the process.. DeNicolos other lawsuit, against Hubbard, accused her former employer of defaming her when the company stated it had investigated her claims against Ferguson but did not find corroborating evidence. Both she and McGurren are represented by attorney Carmen Caruso. What really has fans upset is that no one has addressed her disappearance from the show. May 6, 2021. 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. She is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires. Ashrafi, who was afternoon co-host and traffic reporter at WTMX using the on-air name Jennifer Roberts, is the fourth former female staff member to back claims against the station and Ferguson. She's seeking $10 million in damages. Chicago | Mornings @US99Chicago 6-9am SHOP Melissa's Amazon Favorites link below . 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 . I know this is exactly where Im supposed to be, and I couldnt be happier to make this new move in my career.. 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 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. I love Chicago and country music and Ive never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. 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. 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. "We're incredibly excited to be growing . His name is actually Brian Paruch, but hes been called Whip for more than a decade. 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. Much like McGurren made allegations attached as a filing in another former WTMX employees suit, Ashrafi is using a similar legal maneuver. 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. Radio host Eric Ferguson works in the WTMX-FM studio with Melissa McGurren, center, and former co-host Kathy Hart in 2009. . Radio Ink. 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.. I really truly am. McGurren currently works as a host at the country station, US99. On Aug. 16, the appeals court issued a mandate dismissing the case. McGurren spent most of . It sounds to us like shes your every day proud mom, but let us not forget he is so many of these things because of who she is. 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. 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. 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. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissa's characterization of events.". Hubbard also asked Judge Franklin Valderrram to consider Judge Guzmans rationale and toss DeNicolos complaint for the same reasons. Thanks for reading! Whatever Happened to Brian Buckner from Barnwood Builders? The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois By. Read the entire Chicago Tribune article here. MCGURREN also brought an EEOC Charge of. 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.