In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, US99 tied for 15th in mornings with a 2.0 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 250,800. Both she and McGurren are represented by attorney Carmen Caruso. May 6, 2021. She is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires. 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. She reiterated that position in a demand for arbitration filed June 24, 2021. You have permission to edit this article. 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.. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Guzman denied a motion to reconsider the case in April and denied McGurrens motion to amend her complaint on June 30. He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. 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 . Melissa McGurren Departs WTMX's Eric In The Morning In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, The Mix ranked third overall in mornings with a 7.3 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 390,600. The arbitrator in McGurrens EEOC case ruled in Hubbards favor earlier this year. We thought wed look into her life and see whats up with her and the fact that shes been gone for months. Fans arent sure what happened, where she went, and how things are going for her right now, and we are curious ourselves. Tell us what's wrong with this post? Radio Ink. Tuesdays comment of the day: Rita Buda: I can't wait to listen to Rick O'Dell's top 12 smooth jazz Christmas tunes. 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. Representatives for Hubbard and Ferguson did not respond to requests for comment. 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. Former WTMX Morning Co-Host Melissa McGurren Files $10 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Hubbard. The duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. 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.. 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. She's been with WTMX 101.9 The. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. Her new role will make them direct competitors. After studying business in college, Tiffany embarked upon a career she never dreamed of. A separate lawsuit she filed against Ferguson remains active. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. Melissa McGurren Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against Hubbard. I know this is exactly where Im supposed to be, and I couldnt be happier to make this new move in my career.. It's hard to choose, they all sound so great. Former WTMX radio host Melissa McGurren's $10 million defamation suit Melissa McGurren & Austin Huff To Host Mornings At US99 Amidst the continuing allegations, station management pulled Ferguson off the air, saying he will be sidelined through October. Fans have been worried. She is a huge fan of different genres of music that would never be played on her own station. Hubbard also asked Judge Franklin Valderrram to consider Judge Guzmans rationale and toss DeNicolos complaint for the same reasons. Feder: US99 hires Melissa McGurren to host mornings - Daily Herald McGurren was one of three female former station employees to raise allegations about Ferguson in court filings after DeNicolo filed her lawsuits. Theres still some major concerns. They miss her, they want to see her back, and they are missing what she brings to the mix when shes on the air. Veteran Chicago radio personality Melissa McGurren's effort to revive her $10 million defamation suit against Hubbard Radio has ended. 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. Im honored to wake up with this city every morning, and I cannot wait to have a ton of fun in the process.. At least four women have accused Ferguson of misconduct, which led the host of "Eric In the Morning" to leave the station last October. She became a stay-at-home mom and writer with her own blog. 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.. 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. Dismissal of Melissa McGurren's defamation suit doesn't end legal 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. Melissa McGurren Profiles | Facebook Shes been with WTMX 101.9 The Mix, for a long time, and suddenly shes gone. McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that. 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. 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.. A status hearing in DeNicolos lawsuit against Ferguson is scheduled for Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court. 0. 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 . She grew up in Portage, Indiana, which is not too far. 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. 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. "We're incredibly excited to be growing . 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. 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. Drew Walker, an 18-year veteran of US99 who most recently has been hosting mornings, returns to middays from 9 a.m. to noon. 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. In his ruling, Gomez cited the legal statute opinions that do not misstate facts are protected by the First Amendment and are non-actionable. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. McGurren also accused Ferguson of grossly abusing his power and that his behavior created a hostile work environment. A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this year. McGurren accused Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. Ferguson's former co-host, Melissa McGurren, filed the $10 million lawsuit last fall. "Drew [Walker] returns to late mornings and middays and will continue to bring the energy and companionship country listeners have grown to love to get them through their day. 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. Read the entire Chicago Tribune article here. The court agrees with Hubbard that the statements have nothing to do with DeNicolos conduct on the job.. 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. 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. She released a video to her own Facebook account that says shes sorry for her absence and that shes all right. We dont know Jim, though, because she keeps his face out of all of her Instagram photos. I love Chicago and country music and Ive never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. Audacy Announces Debut of New Morning Show on US99 in Chicago 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. 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. Thanks, you guys. 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. 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 . Executives from the radio station said at the time they were surprised McGurren declined a contract extension. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more. Attorney Carmen Caruso, who represents both women, declined Tuesday to comment on Valderramas ruling. Hubbard Radio Wants Court To Dismiss Defamation Suits From Eric Report: Chicago Radio Host Melissa McGurren Sues WTMX She is a mother. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for [] How could we improve it? Melissa McGurren won't be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but she's very famous in her own town. She's a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. 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. The Audacy station is pairing up Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff to host morning drive on WUSN-FM. Her new role will make them direct competitors. Englands internal email is an informational communication to Plaintiffs former coworkers and defendants current employees, Guzman wrote. 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. In a declaration attached to McGurrens defamation suit, Ashrafi said the station was a hostile, humiliating atmosphere for female employees. oh and REINVENTION. Feder: The Mix bids farewell to morning co-star Melissa McGurren It acknowledges the existence of plaintiffs pending EEOC claim, does not discuss particular facts, and simply indicates that the station has conducted its own investigations and does not agree with Plaintiffs characterization of events a classic statement of opinion.. A onetime producer of "The Jim Rome Show" for CBS Sports Radio, he owns and operatesKorkedBats.com,a comedy sports blog. 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. Chicago | Mornings @US99Chicago 6-9am SHOP Melissa's Amazon Favorites link below . 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. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty). A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this year. The decision mirrors another federal judges earlier decision dismissing McGurrens defamation claim against Hubbard. 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 also brought an EEOC Charge of. 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. 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. Melissa McGurren co-hosted Eric Ferguson's morning show at WTMX-FM 101.9 before leaving the Chicago radio station in December 2020. 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. Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that alleged Ferguson had harassed her. 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. 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. 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. Thank you so much. "We're incredibly excited to be growing our US99 family and making mornings . 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. We look forward to getting them under oath for questioning.. 10 Things You Didn't Know about Melissa McGurren - TVOvermind Shes a huge Frank Sinatra fan, too. He was sidelined from his popular morning radio show last year. 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. Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission was an opinion and therefore did not constitute defamation. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois When she informed me of her decision, she described her time at the station as a privilege and that feeling is completely mutual. 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. WTMX promoted Chris Petlak from afternoons to mornings, effective Jan. 24. "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. Melissa McGurren - Facebook Being part of a morning show means shes sharing so much of her life with the people who listen. Now, in her defamation suit, McGurren accuses Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. She currently co-hosts mornings at Audacy crosstown country US99 WUSN. 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. 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. Right now, thats a fair assessment. 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. DeNicolo was laid off from the station in May 2020 after a nearly 20-year career. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissas characterization of events.. By. 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." 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. Violeta Podrumedic, Brian Whip Paruch, Melissa McGurren and Eric Ferguson. Hes part of Melissas morning show. Melissa McGurren (@melissamcgurren) / Twitter McGurren filed her own federal lawsuit against Hubbard shortly afterward. 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. 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. 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. Former WTMX Morning Co-Host Melissa McGurren Files $10 Million She subsequently filed two lawsuits, one against Ferguson and the other against Hubbard. "Melissa and Austin" debuted on WUSN Monday, May 10, running from 6am-9am. 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. Tiffany and her husband are the proud parents of four children in her free time. Second woman alleges inappropriate behavior by Eric Ferguson of The Mix Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. 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. 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 will co-host a new morning show on country station WUSN-FM 99.5 starting Monday. Thanks for reading! 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. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. McGurren alleged management did nothing about her concerns, then forced her out in December. 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. McGurren currently works as a host at the country station, US99. His ruling included three reasons why he was accepting the motion to dismiss by Hubbard. 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. 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. She has excellent taste. She also loves artists like the Foo Fighters. Guzman again, disagreed, saying that the statement was an opinion based on its position rather than a statement of facts. Overall the station ranked 13th with a 2.6 share and weekly cume of 710,900. 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. 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. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissa's characterization of events.". I really truly am. 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." After taking Ferguson off the air last October following a series of allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power by former female co-workers, Hubbard parted ways with the morning host last November. McGurren left the station in 2020 and alleged in the lawsuit that the station was intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. McGurren now hosts mornings on Audacy country station WUSN-FM 99.5. Report: Chicago Radio Host Melissa McGurren Sues WTMX Jan 27, 2022 Help create big change for the pets and people in our community. 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. His name is actually Brian Paruch, but hes been called Whip for more than a decade. 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.". You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. "I love Chicago and country music and I've never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. 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. Former Eric Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren breaks silence, alleges 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. Eric in the Morning is expected to continue with current contributors Violeta Podrumedic and Brian Whip Paruch and producer John Swany Swanson. Judge dismisses defamation case against WTMX owner - Chicago Sun-Times McGurren and her agent, attorney Steve Mandell, declined requests for comment. Mom 1st. DeNicolos position is that the statements not only accuse her of on-the-job malfeasance but also prejudice her in her trade and profession. All four women alleged management protected him because of his shows high ratings. The Mix and its corporate owners have been engaged in a coverup that is now exposed as a lie, Caruso told the Tribune. 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.