ESPN to ousted employee: 'Get used to sexual harassment'

ESPN representative claimed in deposition that production assistant Brooke Hundley was fired due to "misconduct," rather than harassment claim against analyst Steve Phillips.

Like this story? Share it: Tweet

RSS Feed

(PR NewsChannel) / October 21, 2010 / NEW YORK / Former ESPN employee Brooke Hundley, who earlier this year sued the sports network when it fired her following her involvement with on-air baseball analyst Steve Phillips, says her case is "progressing well," and she is "confident" in a favorable outcome, according to her attorney.

Hundley claims in her suit that ESPN agreed to continue her employment after it concluded and closed its investigation, provided Hundley signed a release of claims. The station fired her the following month after the issue became public.

When asked during a deposition of an ESPN executive whether the network has a written procedure to follow when a woman complains of sexual harassment, the deponent replied, "No." The executive confirmed that when Hundley complained to her supervisor about Phillips harassing her Hundley was told to "get used to it. This is the culture at ESPN."

The deposition also revealed the network's claims to have fired Hundley because of alleged “misconduct,” including not being forthcoming during ESPN's interview of her in August. Hundley maintains that she was honest and truthful, and committed no act of misconduct. ESPN’s firing of her is defamatory and retaliation for filing her complaint about Phillips, said her attorney.

ESPN suspended Phillips for five days without pay and did not punish Hundley at the close of its investigation on September 16, 2009. The network fired Phillips and Brooke Hundley only a few days after the story hit the press at the end of October 2009.

"While ESPN claims to have reopened its investigation after the New York Post article, it admits that it neither re-interviewed Brooke, nor obtained the text messages she exchanged with Steve Phillips which would have confirmed Brooke’s version of the events," said Richard Hayber, Hundley's attorney. "ESPN didn't punish Brooke until the incident received a firestorm of media coverage and it was forced to deal publicly with Phillips’ behavior. Remarkably, and despite its well documented history of sexual harassment claims, ESPN has no official procedure to address sexual harassment complaints."

Hundley is suing ESPN for lost wages, emotional distress and damage to her reputation.

Earlier his week, the Huffington Post reported a senior ESPN producer was arrested for allegedly masturbating while watching his female neighbor getting dressed through her window. And Comcast SportsNet Chicago said it fired reporter Jen Patterson, who the company says is dating Blackhawks defenseman Nick Boynton, according to the Chicago Tribune.

To download the civil rights complaint:
https://prnewschannel.com/pdf/Hundley_CHRO_Complaint.pdf

To read previous news release about the lawsuit against ESPN: Former ESPN Production Assistant Involved in Sex Scandal Files Lawsuit against Sports Network

Please use media contacts listed below for any related interview requests:

Media Contacts:
Patrick Flanary
PR firm: The Publicity Agency
Email:
Office: (813) 708-1220 x7781
Web site: www.thepublicityagency.com

Permalink:

SOURCE: thepublicityagency.com

Like this story? Share it: Tweet

RSS Feed

PLEASE NOTE: To voice your opinion, please use the comment forms below. The above article is a press release. Find out how you can send a press release about your company, new product or newsworthy event.

ESPN to ousted employee: 'Get used to sexual harassment'

For PR tips and to engage in conversation: Follow PR NewsChannel on Twitter.

For PR tips and to engage in conversation:
Follow PR NewsChannel on Twitter.