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Join Facebook to connect with Melissa McGurren and others you may know. 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. Attorney Carmen Caruso, who represents both women, declined Tuesday to comment on Valderramas ruling. She is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires. 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. 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). Her new role will make them direct competitors. McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that. 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 . They miss her, they want to see her back, and they are missing what she brings to the mix when shes on the air. DeNicolos position is that the statements not only accuse her of on-the-job malfeasance but also prejudice her in her trade and profession. 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. Hes part of Melissas morning show. oh and REINVENTION. 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. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. Veteran Chicago radio personality Melissa McGurrens effort to revive her $10 million defamation suit against Hubbard Radio has ended. 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. His ruling included three reasons why he was accepting the motion to dismiss by Hubbard. 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. 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. Collectively, this roster will super serve Chicagos country music audience as the standalone country station in the market, Williamson said. By. Starting. 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. Read the entire Chicago Tribune article here. WTMX disc jockey Eric Ferguson speaks to Kaneland Middle School students in 2005. Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. 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. 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. 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.. 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 a lot more local than most people assume. Veteran Chicago radio personality Melissa McGurren's effort to revive her $10 million defamation suit against Hubbard Radio has ended. 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. 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. A separate lawsuit she filed against Ferguson remains active. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. How could we improve it? In his ruling, Gomez cited the legal statute opinions that do not misstate facts are protected by the First Amendment and are non-actionable. 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 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. Guzman again, disagreed, saying that the statement was an opinion based on its position rather than a statement of facts. I know this is exactly where Im supposed to be, and I couldnt be happier to make this new move in my career.. (Todd Rosenberg Photography) McGurren was offered a. View the profiles of people named Melissa McGurren. 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. After McGurren left WTMX, in December 2020, she filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. "Melissa and Austin" debuted on WUSN Monday, May 10, running from 6am-9am. 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. In a Facebook video posted earlier, McGurren told fans: "Im really sorry that I havent been there. Thanks, you guys. 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. After studying business in college, Tiffany embarked upon a career she never dreamed of. She alleged her former employer had falsely branded her a liar when the company said in an email to staff that it had thoroughly investigated her EEOC complaint and did not agree with Melissas characterization of events.. I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team, McGurren said in a statement. She did promise her followers back in October that she would reveal him sooner or later, but shes yet to do so. All four women alleged management protected him because of his shows high ratings. 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.. He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. We wish her the best.. What a fun thing to be able to grow up and make that happen for yourself. Mom 1st. Right now, thats a fair assessment. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. While so many people tend to move to Chicago from far away, she is not one of those people. 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. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit, as reported by the Tribune. She is a mother. 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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. Shes a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. When she informed me of her decision, she described her time at the station as a privilege and that feeling is completely mutual. Her coworker, Whip, calls her the secret weapon on their show. Melissa McGurren won't be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but she's very famous in her own town. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. McGurren alleged management did nothing about her concerns, then forced her out in December. 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. The judge on Friday ruled that the station's statement regarding a complaint made by McGurren to the U.S. It all comes just as Ferguson is back from his latest surgery for spinal stenosis, a procedure involving spinal decompression and disc fusion. 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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. Ferguson's former co-host, Melissa McGurren, filed the $10 million lawsuit last fall. Radio Ink. 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. 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? 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. But, her cohosts have not said a word, and thats what has fans worried. In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her when they worked together. McGurren also accused Ferguson of grossly abusing his power and that his behavior created a hostile work environment. 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. She released a video to her own Facebook account that says shes sorry for her absence and that shes all right. The arbitrator in McGurrens EEOC case ruled in Hubbards favor earlier this year. 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. McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that Ferguson created an unbearably hostile work environment. She's seeking $10 million in damages. She subsequently filed two lawsuits, one against Ferguson and the other against Hubbard. He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. No reason was cited for the breakup, but reports persisted of friction between Ferguson and McGurren. 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. 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. The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. 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. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois She also loves artists like the Foo Fighters. McGurren currently co-hosts mornings at Audacy crosstown country US99 WUSN. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Shes a huge Frank Sinatra fan, too. US99 Chicago Launches New Morning Show. We look forward to getting them under oath for questioning.. :). McGurren now hosts mornings on Audacy country station WUSN-FM 99.5. 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 . Its actually good for the game, Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. 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." 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. Lefty reliever Brandon Hughes also has been on a later game schedule after a heavy workload last season. Shes always wanted to be in the business, and she always wanted to do things like this that she loves so much. "We're incredibly excited to be growing . The suit against Ferguson states that in 2004 she stopped providing oral sex in response to his demands, which he allegedly made by using the code words I need a back rub. She said Ferguson taunted her with the phrase throughout her remaining tenure at the station. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. Fans arent sure what happened, where she went, and how things are going for her right now, and we are curious ourselves. Last December Hubbard filed to have DeNicolos suit dismissed and to strike some of the allegations in her second amended complaint. Moving to Chicago was a natural move for her. 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 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. In a declaration attached to McGurrens defamation suit, Ashrafi said the station was a hostile, humiliating atmosphere for female employees. His name is actually Brian Paruch, but hes been called Whip for more than a decade. 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. McGurren filed her own federal lawsuit against Hubbard shortly afterward. Believer of love, kindness, truth and honesty. Now, in her defamation suit, McGurren accuses Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. Heres a fun fact: Shes been writing and creating her own radio shows since she was a little girl of only 8. No reason was cited for the breakup, but reports persisted of friction between Ferguson and McGurren. You have permission to edit this article. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty). 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. McGurren spent most of . Being part of a morning show means shes sharing so much of her life with the people who listen. Both she and McGurren are represented by attorney Carmen Caruso. 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. She is such a proud mom. But two weeks later, McGurrens lawyer filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of the appeal. 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. Guzman also provided McGurren with a window of time to amend her complaint and gave Hubbard 14 days to respond to her amended filing. 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. WTMX afternoon host Chris Petlak succeeded Ferguson as host of the morning show on The Mix in January. At least four women have accused Ferguson of misconduct, which led the host of "Eric In the Morning" to leave the station last October. Melissa McGurren Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against Hubbard. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free. Melissa McGurren wont be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but shes very famous in her own town. 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. 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. 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. 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. Nazareth won its fourth state trophy since 2019, and more importantly the programs first state title. A status hearing in DeNicolos lawsuit against Ferguson is scheduled for Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court. A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this year. McGurren and her agent, attorney Steve Mandell, declined requests for comment. Tell us what's wrong with this post? Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. "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.