FEEDBACK (11-17-2008): "I think the legal experts quoted on your website are way off the mark on KMBC. This will go to trial, if a judge doesn't summarily dismiss this out of hand. "The women are suing because they didn't get the jobs/shifts they wanted. They still have jobs, I don't believe any of them have had their wages cut. Someone younger, cuter, harder working comes along and beats them out of a job. That's life. "And Maria Antonia crying foul because she got yelled out by a producer in her IFB while doing a live shot is laughable. Good God that goes on everyday. The ND at KMBC, I don't know. Gerry Roberts I do know. He is without a doubt one of the classiest people I've ever worked with in any newsroom. "If Hearst gives in on this they open themselves up to lawsuits from every aging female in every newsroom they run. I believe they'll fight this to the end. Then again, I'm no legal expert and I could be wrong."
"...It certainly bursts the bubble of a happy little shop where everyone has a 9 tattooed on their ass. I don't know if this has been below the surface for some time (some changes happened a while ago) or whether the new news director had anything to do with it. "As for speculation that it will hurt their ratings, that's nonsense...people just don't care that much."
Christine Craft
11-17-2008 KMBC LAWSUIT WILL LIKELY GUARANTEE $$$ AND JOB SECURITY The stunning lawsuit by three veteran KMBC-TV9 personalities---anchors Maria Antonia and Kelly Eckerman and reporter Peggy Breit--could cause the ABC affiliate serious image, ratings and morale problems. However, while the station may suffer, the trio most likely are assured a handsome monetary settlement and guaranteed employment. The three filed the suit in the middle of the station's all-important sweeps period (which is used to set advertising rates). Antonia has been with the station 25 years, Breit 27, and Eckerman 18. "Nobody believes that they worked at a place for 25 years and now claim they were somehow mistreated,"said KCMO 710 talker Chris Stigall on his talk show (11/17). "It is the best of both worlds for them," says one local attorney. "This very likely will never go to trial, but they will probably work out a monetary settlement and have guaranteed employment for as long as they want. "It's a perfect strategy if they anticipated cutbacks on the horizon." A source close to the situation reports there was nothing in any of the three women's contracts that ever guaranteed prime anchor positions or Monday through Friday work schedules. In addition, KMBC has by far the lowest employee turnover of any TV station in Kansas City, which could minimize the charges of a hostile workplace. The source also said it was a "classic" move that the three retained KC Attorney Dennis Egan, who represented the infamous Christine Craft. Craft's suit 25 years ago against KMBC gave the station a national black eye that continues to be discussed even today. After initially being awarded $500,000 in damages Craft's case was appealed where she lost. She won a second trial, however, her judgment was eventually tossed out by the 8th Circuit Court. Will the suit hurt the perennial ratings champ? It is too early to tell, but with KCTV5 hot on KMBC's heels, it is a distinct possibility in the future. "Unless the entire matter is settled quickly, it will definitely impact KMBC's brand image and could affect ratings," notes a marketing expert. "There will be a disconnect with viewers when they see a smiling Kelly Eckerman or Maria Antonia delivering the news knowing they are suing the station for alleged mistreatment."
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