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Second woman alleges inappropriate behavior by Eric Ferguson of The Mix How could we improve it? She currently co-hosts mornings at Audacy crosstown country US99 WUSN. 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. His name is actually Brian Paruch, but hes been called Whip for more than a decade. By. Thank you so much. Feder: US99 hires Melissa McGurren to host mornings - Daily Herald 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 The former morning show co-host at Hubbard hot AC "The Mix" WTMX Chicago has withdrawn her appeal of a federal court decision that dismissed the suit. Her new role will make them direct competitors. After studying business in college, Tiffany embarked upon a career she never dreamed of. Former WTMX radio host Melissa McGurren's $10 million defamation suit 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. 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 now hosts mornings on Audacy country station WUSN-FM 99.5. What really has fans upset is that no one has addressed her disappearance from the show. She is a huge fan of different genres of music that would never be played on her own station. Starting. "I love Chicago and country music and I've never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission was an opinion and therefore did not constitute defamation. She's back: US99 hires Melissa McGurren to host mornings 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 . 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. 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. 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. 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. Melissa McGurren (@melissamcgurren) / Twitter Veteran Chicago radio personality Melissa McGurrens effort to revive her $10 million defamation suit against Hubbard Radio has ended. Honestly, let her not forget that. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissas characterization of events.. Last December Hubbard filed to have DeNicolos suit dismissed and to strike some of the allegations in her second amended complaint. McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that. Melissa McGurren Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against 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. May 6, 2021. 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? Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. Moving to Chicago was a natural move for her. I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team, McGurren said in a statement. 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. Tuesdays comment of the day: Rita Buda: I can't wait to listen to Rick O'Dell's top 12 smooth jazz Christmas tunes. She has excellent taste. Drew Walker, an 18-year veteran of US99 who most recently has been hosting mornings, returns to middays from 9 a.m. to noon. 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. 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. 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. Terms of her multiyear deal, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. McGurren was one of three female former station employees to raise allegations about Ferguson in court filings after DeNicolo filed her lawsuits. Radio Ink. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit, as reported by the Tribune. Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com. The judge also found that Hubbard did not cross the line because its statement expressed an opinion regarding McGurrens claim to the EEOC. She collaborated with the NFL, CDC, and Heads Up Football Program in 2012 and 2013. In his ruling, Gomez cited the legal statute opinions that do not misstate facts are protected by the First Amendment and are non-actionable. View the profiles of people named Melissa McGurren. Melissa McGurren won't be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but she's very famous in her own town. One Month In, WUSN Chicago's New Morning Team Is Making Itself At Home. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. Melissa McGurren wont be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but shes very famous in her own town. The court agrees with Hubbard that the statements have nothing to do with DeNicolos conduct on the job.. Former WTMX radio host Melissa McGurren's defamation lawsuit dismissed She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for [] 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. Shes a lot more local than most people assume. She's seeking $10 million in damages. 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.". 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, 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 sells Hinsdale home for less than he paid - Crain's Chicago Overall the station ranked 13th with a 2.6 share and weekly cume of 710,900. 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.. 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. You have permission to edit this article. 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. When she informed me of her decision, she described her time at the station as a privilege and that feeling is completely mutual. Collectively, this roster will super serve Chicagos country music audience as the standalone country station in the market, Williamson said. similar defamation lawsuit filed by Cynthia DeNicolo, Hubbard parted ways with the morning host. Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more. She's been with WTMX 101.9 The. Shes been with WTMX 101.9 The Mix, for a long time, and suddenly shes gone. 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. Former Eric Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren breaks silence, alleges 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 also brought an EEOC Charge of. Thank you for all those great messages. After McGurren left WTMX, in December 2020, she filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. 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 status hearing in DeNicolos lawsuit against Ferguson is scheduled for Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court. 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. :). WTMX afternoon host Chris Petlak succeeded Ferguson as host of the morning show on The Mix in January. I love Chicago and country music and Ive never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. 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. 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. Her writing gained recognition and since 2009, she's written for sites such as What to Expect, Where'd My Sanity Go, and dozens more. 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. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. OK, love you all. 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. Third woman accuses radio host Eric Ferguson of inappropriate behavior 0. 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. How would you rate this article? Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissa's characterization of events.". She too was represented by Mandell. 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." McGurren accused Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. On Aug. 16, the appeals court issued a mandate dismissing the case. -. Hubbard Radio Wants Court To Dismiss Defamation Suits From Eric 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. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois Hubbard also asked Judge Franklin Valderrram to consider Judge Guzmans rationale and toss DeNicolos complaint for the same reasons. 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. 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.. McGurren left the station in 2020 and alleged in the lawsuit that the station was intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. By November 2019, I could not stand to be in that hostile work environment another day. Melissa McGurren Profiles | Facebook 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. She is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires. Thanks for reading! Shes always wanted to be in the business, and she always wanted to do things like this that she loves so much. Now, in her defamation suit, McGurren accuses Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career.