Meredith Station Loses a Round in Court
Meredith owned KCTV was hoping to have discriminating case against them thrown out, but the judge has decided that it moves forward.
A Federal judge has ruled that the case, brought against the station by former Anchor Karen Fuller continues because she provided sufficient evidence that the station discriminated against her on the basis of her age or gender.
Fuller sat in the anchor chair from 2003 until 2015, when the Meredith Corp.-owned station fired her at age 47.
Fuller alleges that the station has an "age ceiling" for women anchors but not men. KCTV argues that Fuller was let go because of poor on- and off-air performance, the report says.
However, Judge John Lungstrum found enough evidence that the reasons for Fuller's firing were pretextual, pointing to the renewal of her contract numerous times, positive previous performance reviews and her presence in the anchor chair during the vital sweeps period.
In addition, Lungstrum cited comments by KCTV managers that they sought a younger anchor to replace Fuller, who now works as an anchor in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The case is scheduled to go to trial in December.