Categories: OLD Media Moves

Lawsuit continues alleging Fox Biz’s Payne sexually assaulted commentator

Charles Payne

A discrimination lawsuit by political commentator who once regularly appeared on Fox News will move forward against the cable news network, but only on a limited basis after a federal judge on Tuesday substantially pared her claims, repots Eriq Gardner of the Hollywood Reporter.

Gardner reports, “Hughes alleges that Fox Business host Charles Payne sexually assaulted her in 2013 and she brought a wide-ranging complaint against 21st Century Fox, Fox News, Payne and two executives.

“In response to the lawsuit, Fox’s attorneys argued that Hughes can’t assert claims of discrimination or retaliation because she was not a Fox employee, only an unpaid guest.

“U.S. District Court Judge William Pauley III agrees in part.

“In an opinion, Pauley writes that travel expenses and the cost of doing her hair and makeup are benefits that fall short of establishing employee status and that any allegations concerning promises to retain her contractually are too vague. Additionally, Pauley won’t credit the publicity benefits of appearing on Fox News on a regular basis.”

Read more here. Once Hughes reported Payne’s alleged rape to Fox, she alleges she was blacklisted. Fox directed an outside law firm to investigate her claims, and Payne returned to his job after a brief suspension.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.

Recent Posts

Crain’s Chicago seeks an AME of news

Crain's Chicago Business is a leading source of news, analysis, and information on the business,…

9 hours ago

FT’s Agenda hires Sandler as associate editor

Emma Sandler has been hired as associate editor at Agenda, a publication under the FT…

13 hours ago

Claman of Fox Biz inducted into Cable Hall of Fame

Cablefax Daily interviewed Fox Business Network anchor Liz Claman on her induction into the Cable Hall…

14 hours ago

BBC News hires Edwards as money, work and tech reporter

BBC News has hired Charlotte Edwards as a reporter covering money, work and technology. She previously was…

16 hours ago

Maher named Reuters deputy breaking news editor for Middle East

Reuters has promoted Hatem Maher to deputy breaking news editor for the Middle East. Maher has been…

17 hours ago

Financial Post hires Cousins as a senior editor

Canada's Financial Post has hired Ben Cousins as a senior editor. He has been working as a…

17 hours ago