She is a huge fan of different genres of music that would never be played on her own station. 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. 13 talking about this. Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission was an opinion and therefore did not constitute defamation. Believer of love, kindness, truth and honesty. It just brings alertness and focus to the game., White Sox notebook: Benintendi, Anderson, Alberto, Saturdays win. MCGURREN also brought an EEOC Charge of. Honestly, let her not forget that. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. But two weeks later, McGurrens lawyer filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of the appeal. Guzman again, disagreed, saying that the statement was an opinion based on its position rather than a statement of facts. 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. oh and REINVENTION. May 6, 2021. She also loves artists like the Foo Fighters. Fans arent sure what happened, where she went, and how things are going for her right now, and we are curious ourselves. The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. Amidst the continuing allegations, station management pulled Ferguson off the air, saying he will be sidelined through October. 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. When she informed me of her decision, she described her time at the station as a privilege and that feeling is completely mutual. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit, as reported by the Tribune. After being missing from "Eric In The Morning" for the past several weeks, Hubbard Hot AC "101.9 The Mix" WTMX Skokie/Chicago has revealed that co-host Melissa McGurren is departing the station after declining a contract extension offered to her. 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. She's a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. 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 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. In a Facebook video posted earlier, McGurren told fans: "Im really sorry that I havent been there. Shes been with WTMX 101.9 The Mix, for a long time, and suddenly shes gone. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. Now, in her defamation suit, McGurren accuses Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. A statement released by the company alludes to a contract extension offer it says McGurren turned down, but it provided no other details. His name is actually Brian Paruch, but hes been called Whip for more than a decade. In his ruling, Gomez cited the legal statute opinions that do not misstate facts are protected by the First Amendment and are non-actionable. 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. Right now, thats a fair assessment. Thanks for reading! The list of flaws with this team are many, but the fact that this Bulls front office thought Russell Westbrook might help them out could be atop that list. Until recently he also hosted a podcast on the site. 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.. The court agrees with Hubbard that the statements have nothing to do with DeNicolos conduct on the job.. In January 2020, I resigned after I lined up another job.. 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. 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. A separate lawsuit she filed against Ferguson remains active. 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. Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. We thought wed look into her life and see whats up with her and the fact that shes been gone for months. 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. At least four women have accused Ferguson of misconduct, which led the host of "Eric In the Morning" to leave the station last October. Michael Jackson, for instance, is a huge favorite for her. 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. (Todd Rosenberg Photography) McGurren was offered a. Mom 1st. The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. Both she and McGurren are represented by attorney Carmen Caruso. Melissa McGurren Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against Hubbard. 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. Heres a fun fact: Shes been writing and creating her own radio shows since she was a little girl of only 8. Fans have been worried. Her coworker, Whip, calls her the secret weapon on their show. 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. OK, love you all. Chicago | Mornings @US99Chicago 6-9am SHOP Melissa's Amazon Favorites link below . I love Chicago and country music and Ive never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. 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. Her lawsuit claims station vice president Jeff England defamed her when he sent a message to staff in 2020 stating the station had investigated her claims and did not agree with [McGurrens] characterization of events a statement that McGurren said implied she was a liar, and which she claimed impugned her integrity. It's hard to choose, they all sound so great. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. "This far-reaching argument finds no support in the law," Guzman wrote in his decision. 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. 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. Tell us what's wrong with this post? She is such a proud mom. She has excellent taste. They miss her, they want to see her back, and they are missing what she brings to the mix when shes on the air. We dont know Jim, though, because she keeps his face out of all of her Instagram photos. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. 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. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois 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. 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. Melissa McGurren co-hosted Eric Ferguson's morning show at WTMX-FM 101.9 before leaving the Chicago radio station in December 2020. McGurren and her agent, attorney Steve Mandell, declined requests for comment. 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. McGurren filed her own federal lawsuit against Hubbard shortly afterward. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. 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. 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." Believer of love, kindness, truth and honesty. 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. The judges ruling is with prejudice, meaning DeNicolo cannot file an amended complaint. Englands internal email is an informational communication to Plaintiffs former coworkers and defendants current employees, Guzman wrote. Violeta Podrumedic, Brian Whip Paruch, Melissa McGurren and Eric Ferguson. 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. 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. 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. 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. Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. McGurren called Ferguson a serial abuser of women, station management pulled Ferguson off the air, a separate $10 million defamation lawsuit against Hubbard Radio. He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. 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. 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. It all comes just as Ferguson is back from his latest surgery for spinal stenosis, a procedure involving spinal decompression and disc fusion. 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. However, McGurren's suit states "Hubbard Radio's statement" that the company "thoroughly investigated" her allegations "is false." 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. 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. She did promise her followers back in October that she would reveal him sooner or later, but shes yet to do so. "Melissa and Austin" debuted on WUSN Monday, May 10, running from 6am-9am. Thank you for all those great messages. 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.". 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 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 reiterated that position in a demand for arbitration filed June 24, 2021. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissa's characterization of events.". I know this is exactly where I'm supposed to be, and I couldn't be happier to make this new move in my career.". Her new role will make them direct competitors. Read the entire Chicago Tribune article here. "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. 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. 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. Tiffany and her husband are the proud parents of four children in her free time. She too was represented by Mandell. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. 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. oh and REINVENTION. -. You have permission to edit this article. McGurren first made her accusations in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, shortly after leaving the station in December 2020. 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. It finished first among women between 35 and 64. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free. Thank you so much. Last week U.S. District Court. McGurren now hosts mornings on Audacy country station WUSN-FM 99.5. "We're incredibly excited to be growing . The judge on Friday ruled that the station's statement regarding a complaint made by McGurren to the U.S. Ferguson's former co-host, Melissa McGurren, filed the $10 million lawsuit last fall. 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). She is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires. WTMX promoted Chris Petlak from afternoons to mornings, effective Jan. 24. 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. McGurren currently works as a host at the country station, US99. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. Shes a lot more local than most people assume. His ruling included three reasons why he was accepting the motion to dismiss by Hubbard. Shes a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. The decision mirrors another federal judges earlier decision dismissing McGurrens defamation claim against Hubbard. 10 Things You Didnt Know about Melissa McGurren, Five Songs That Lead to the Creation of a Movie or TV Show, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Brandon Flynn. Shes dating someone right now, and apparently, his name is Jim. She's been with WTMX 101.9 The. View the profiles of people named Melissa McGurren. 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. What really has fans upset is that no one has addressed her disappearance from the show. She became a stay-at-home mom and writer with her own blog. Eric in the Morning is expected to continue with current contributors Violeta Podrumedic and Brian Whip Paruch and producer John Swany Swanson. 1 talking about this. Shes a huge Frank Sinatra fan, too. 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. Radio host Eric Ferguson works in the WTMX-FM studio with Melissa McGurren, center, and former co-host Kathy Hart in 2009. . 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.. Whatever Happened to Brian Buckner from Barnwood Builders? 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. He calls her the secret weapon, and continues with, theres something unique about her, something super appealing, that is so central to the show, and hes not wrong according to fans. Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com. She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for [] 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. 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. 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 . 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. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit. 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 . I know this is exactly where Im supposed to be, and I couldnt be happier to make this new move in my career.. Join Facebook to connect with Melissa McGurren and others you may know. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. 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." 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. 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. Nazareth won its fourth state trophy since 2019, and more importantly the programs first state title. 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 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 Not so, Valderrama wrote in his 20-page opinion and order. DeNicolo has also filed a separate $10 million defamation lawsuit against Hubbard Radio Chicago. McGurren also accused Ferguson of grossly abusing his power and that his behavior created a hostile work environment. 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 . Jan 27, 2022 Help create big change for the pets and people in our community. "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. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that Ferguson created an unbearably hostile work environment. Valderrama said the analysis in McGurrens lawsuit was applicable and persuasive in DeNicolos case because the companys published statements in both situations were similar. Melissa McGurren, former morning co-host on WTMX 101.9-FM, worked at the Hubbard Radio Chicago station that's more popularly known as The Mix for more than two decades before leaving in 2020. 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. After studying business in college, Tiffany embarked upon a career she never dreamed of. What a fun thing to be able to grow up and make that happen for yourself. 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. 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. Mom 1st. 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. In a declaration attached to McGurrens defamation suit, Ashrafi said the station was a hostile, humiliating atmosphere for female employees. How could we improve it? McGurren alleged management did nothing about her concerns, then forced her out in December.

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