Melissa McGurren wont be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but shes very famous in her own town. Radio Ink. 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. She is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires. 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. 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. Her coworker, Whip, calls her the secret weapon on their show. Melissa McGurren (@melissamcgurren) / Twitter 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. 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. Not so, Valderrama wrote in his 20-page opinion and order. 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. Theres still some major concerns. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that. She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for [] After studying business in college, Tiffany embarked upon a career she never dreamed of. 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. OK, love you all. Until recently he also hosted a podcast on the site. Now, in her defamation suit, McGurren accuses Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. 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. Officials of the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station ended speculation today about McGurren's lengthy absenceand announced a parting of the ways. 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 Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against 10 Things You Didn't Know about Melissa McGurren - TVOvermind How would you rate this article? 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. The arbitrator in McGurrens EEOC case ruled in Hubbards favor earlier this year. 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). 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. Melissa McGurren, Eric Ferguson's morning show co-host, on leaving WTMX Believer of love, kindness, truth and honesty. 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. Former Chicago Radio Co-Host's $10M Defamation Suit Dismissed She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. US99 Chicago Launches New Morning Show - Radio Ink "This far-reaching argument finds no support in the law," Guzman wrote in his decision. Collectively, this roster will super serve Chicagos country music audience as the standalone country station in the market, Williamson said. The Mix and its corporate owners have been engaged in a coverup that is now exposed as a lie, Caruso told the Tribune. Its actually good for the game, Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com. Much like McGurren made allegations attached as a filing in another former WTMX employees suit, Ashrafi is using a similar legal maneuver. Shes been gone from the program long enough that her fans have been a little worried. He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. Melissa McGurren (@melissamcgurren) Instagram photos and videos After McGurren left WTMX, in December 2020, she filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. McGurren first made her accusations in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, shortly after leaving the station in December 2020. McGurren spent most of . The judge on Friday ruled that the station's statement regarding a complaint made by McGurren to the U.S. Melissa McGurren Departs WTMX's Eric In The Morning She became a stay-at-home mom and writer with her own blog. Right now, thats a fair assessment. 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. A separate lawsuit she filed against Ferguson remains active. 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. A statement released by the company alludes to a contract extension offer it says McGurren turned down, but it provided no other details. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Former WTMX staffer sues 'Eric in the Morning' host - NewsBreak Report: Chicago Radio Host Melissa McGurren Sues WTMX 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. 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. One Month In, WUSN Chicago's New Morning Team Is Making Itself At Home. 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. McGurren was one of three female former station employees to raise allegations about Ferguson in court filings after DeNicolo filed her lawsuits. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit. The announcement, made Thursday, comes months after McGurren mysteriously left her morning. "We're incredibly excited to be growing our US99 family and making mornings . She's back: US99 hires Melissa McGurren to host mornings I love smooth jazz Christmas music. Judge dismisses defamation case against WTMX owner - Chicago Sun-Times In January 2020, I resigned after I lined up another job.. Nazareth won its fourth state trophy since 2019, and more importantly the programs first state title. Shes been with WTMX 101.9 The Mix, for a long time, and suddenly shes gone. 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. 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. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. 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 . In his ruling, Gomez cited the legal statute opinions that do not misstate facts are protected by the First Amendment and are non-actionable. McGurren also accused Ferguson of grossly abusing his power and that his behavior created a hostile work environment. What really has fans upset is that no one has addressed her disappearance from the show. Ferguson's former co-host, Melissa McGurren, filed the $10 million lawsuit last fall. The breakup came less than a year after the ubiquitous duo known as "Eric & Kathy" were inducted in the Radio Hall of Fame. No reason was cited for the breakup, but reports persisted of friction between Ferguson and McGurren. 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. Executives from the radio station said at the time they were surprised McGurren declined a contract extension. 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. Report: Chicago Radio Host Melissa McGurren Sues WTMX :). Thank you for all those great messages. 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. 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