Melissa McGurren Drops Attempt To Revive Her Defamation Case Against Hubbard. On Aug. 16, the appeals court issued a mandate dismissing the case. She released a video to her own Facebook account that says shes sorry for her absence and that shes all right. 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. She's a radio host, and she has a huge fan base. A defamation claim by former Ferguson co-host Melissa McGurren was dismissed earlier this year. Melissa McGurren won't be a name you recognize unless you live in Chicago, but she's very famous in her own town. 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. 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. Last December Hubbard filed to have DeNicolos suit dismissed and to strike some of the allegations in her second amended complaint. 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"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. Shes a lot more local than most people assume. She claimed Hubbard falsely branded her as a liar in a staff memo after she reported Ferguson for [] In a declaration attached to McGurrens defamation suit, Ashrafi said the station was a hostile, humiliating atmosphere for female employees. 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. 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.. Eric Ferguson attends a Rosemont concert in 2015. McGurren called Ferguson a serial abuser of women, station management pulled Ferguson off the air, a separate $10 million defamation lawsuit against Hubbard Radio. Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. Its actually good for the game, Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. Believer of love, kindness, truth and honesty. Hes part of Melissas morning show. Sign the petition: action.bestfriends.org End Breed-Restrictive Insurance Practices in Illinois McGurren, who left the show in late 2020 after 22 years, has said in court filings that Ferguson created an unbearably hostile work environment. The breakup came less than a year after the ubiquitous duo known as "Eric & Kathy" were inducted in the Radio Hall of Fame. A statement released by the company alludes to a contract extension offer it says McGurren turned down, but it provided no other details. Michael Jackson, for instance, is a huge favorite for her. 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 is expected to be paid through the end of the year, when her contract expires. Not so, Valderrama wrote in his 20-page opinion and order. DeNicolo was laid off from the station in May 2020 after a nearly 20-year career. Shes been with WTMX 101.9 The Mix, for a long time, and suddenly shes gone. 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 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 . 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. NAB Asks FCC to Complete 2018 Quadrennial Review, Laden Joins WABC/New York as News Director and Host, Audacy Launches ''Front Range Country 103.1'' in Denver, WPZS (Praise 100.9)/Charlotte Ups Melanie Pratt to APD, iHeartMedia's Podcast Platform Spreaker is Now Free, KINK-FM/Portland Adds ''The Greg Beharrell Show''. In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her when they worked together. Tuesdays comment of the day: Rita Buda: I can't wait to listen to Rick O'Dell's top 12 smooth jazz Christmas tunes. Heres a fun fact: Shes been writing and creating her own radio shows since she was a little girl of only 8. She does not have COVID-19, nor does she have any other health conditions. 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.. 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. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission was an opinion and therefore did not constitute defamation. 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. 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. 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. Attorney Carmen Caruso, who represents both women, declined Tuesday to comment on Valderramas ruling. 13 talking about this. Hubbard Radios statement that the company thoroughly investigated McGurrens allegations is false, according to McGurrens suit. 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. 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.. Jan 27, 2022 Help create big change for the pets and people in our community. She also loves artists like the Foo Fighters. Guzman denied a motion to reconsider the case in April and denied McGurrens motion to amend her complaint on June 30. 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.". US99 Chicago Launches New Morning Show. Executives from the radio station said at the time they were surprised McGurren declined a contract extension. 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. 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. Shes been gone from the program long enough that her fans have been a little worried. McGurren currently works as a host at the country station, US99. 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. 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. Right now, thats a fair assessment. "We're incredibly excited to be growing our US99 family and making mornings . You have permission to edit this article. Read the entire Chicago Tribune article here. A onetime producer of "The Jim Rome Show" for CBS Sports Radio, he owns and operatesKorkedBats.com,a comedy sports blog. Much like McGurren made allegations attached as a filing in another former WTMX employees suit, Ashrafi is using a similar legal maneuver. She is a huge fan of different genres of music that would never be played on her own station. Violeta Podrumedic, Brian Whip Paruch, Melissa McGurren and Eric Ferguson. 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. Lefty reliever Brandon Hughes also has been on a later game schedule after a heavy workload last season. McGurren and her agent, attorney Steve Mandell, declined requests for comment. 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. Collectively, this roster will super serve Chicagos country music audience as the standalone country station in the market, Williamson said. Shes a huge Frank Sinatra fan, too. Tell us what's wrong with this post? She collaborated with the NFL, CDC, and Heads Up Football Program in 2012 and 2013. 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Join Facebook to connect with Melissa McGurren and others you may know. Now, in her defamation suit, McGurren accuses Hubbard of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. 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 duo will be heard on "Melissa and Austin," weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10. 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, 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.