Judge Dismisses Melissa McGurren's Defamation Suit

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, March 7, 2022

Melissa McGurren

A federal judge has dismissed Chicago radio host Melissa McGurren's $10 million defamation lawsuit against her former employer, Hubbard Radio Chicago. McGurren, who spent 22 years with WTMX-FM and co-hosted the "Eric in the Morning" with Eric Ferguson, in 2020 filed suit against Hubbard Radio, claiming an email sent to her former co-workers implied she was lying about alleged abusive behavior by Ferguson. Ferguson has since left the station.

According to a report in the Chicago Tribune in October, 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.

In the defamation suit she claimed 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 to staff.

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. Suffice it to say that we do not agree with Melissa's characterization of events."