How Many Problems Will This Cause CBS?

[Guest MikeSC]

'60 Minutes' Staffer on Bush National Guard Report Sues CBS

 

By Samuel Maull Associated Press Writer

Published: Mar 9, 2005

 

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NEW YORK (AP) - A veteran "60 Minutes" staffer sued CBS on Wednesday for alleged age discrimination and defamation, charging that the network used the flawed report on President Bush's National Guard service as an excuse to try to ease her out.

 

Esther Kartiganer, 67, filed the lawsuit on the last day that Dan Rather, the newsman who presented the Bush report, appeared as anchor of the CBS evening news after 24 years. Rather, 73, will continue as a full-time "60 Minutes" reporter.

 

Kartiganer said in court papers that her defamation claim is based on a statement by Leslie Moonves, CBS chairman and chief executive officer, on the network's Web site Jan. 10.

 

In that statement, Moonves said Kartiganer had "abnegated her assigned function" and "CBS News is the worse for it." Moonves made his statement on the same day that an independent panel issued its report on the Bush report.

 

Kartiganer says in court papers that her role in the story's airing was minimal. She says she was directed on Sept. 7 to read transcripts to make sure excerpts of interviews were not used out of context.

 

Kartiganer says she had already been demoted when she was removed as senior producer of "60 Minutes" in May 2004 and made senior producer of "60 Minutes Wednesday."

 

She says she was replaced at "60 Minutes" by a woman 20 years younger, which is part of the basis for her age discrimination claim. She says she was stripped of her senior producer title and her pay was reduced by 20 percent.

 

It was on "60 Minutes Wednesday" that the Bush military service report appeared on Sept. 8.

 

Dana McClintock, spokesman for CBS' parent company, Viacom, issued a statement saying Kartiganer was not terminated by CBS but was transferred to a new position because of the findings of the panel that investigated the Bush report.

 

Kartiganer's lawsuit asks for back pay, bonuses, benefits and unspecified compensatory damages for "emotional distress, humiliation, pain and suffering." It also seeks punitive damages for the "willful and/or reckless disregard" of her rights.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB6LPBB46E.html

I know conservatives have long thought that if you had antagonistic lawyers reviewing this case that it would not hold up well and it could make the official report look extremely shoddy.

 

Now it looks like CBS might be facing this.

 

Will they simply pay her to keep her quiet --- or will they actually try and fight this in court?

-=Mike

[SuperJerk 0]

According to this woman, she had nothing to do with that, and she's just a scapegoat. I'm interested to know who actually made the decision to ignore evidence that the documents could be forgeries.

[Guest MikeSC]

According to this woman, she had nothing to do with that, and she's just a scapegoat. I'm interested to know who actually made the decision to ignore evidence that the documents could be forgeries.

*cough* Dan Rather *cough*

 

If this goes to court, this could well make the CBS report look like a whitewash.

-=Mike

[SuperJerk 0]

It'll be interesting to see how many CBS news reporters, editors, and producers jump ship in the coming months.

 

It paraphrase Ross Perot, there'll be a giant sucking sound of jobs going to cable.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

None.

 

For god's sakes, look at the ON-camera crew. They're well into their five thousandth years.

[Vyce 0]

Dana McClintock, spokesman for CBS' parent company, Viacom, issued a statement saying Kartiganer was not terminated by CBS but was transferred to a new position because of the findings of the panel that investigated the Bush report.

 

This is amusing because it's somewhat irrelevant.

 

As far as employment law goes, just moving someone from one position to another - even if they maintain the same pay, benefits, etc. - can possibly be considered an improper employment action and / or discharge.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

They should find some way to paddle somebody for not thinking of running the documents past somebody who would know what a TANG document looked like.