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Fox Sports 1 Television Personality Files Age Discrimination Suit Against Company


Note, readers might remember the religious discrimination suit that television personality Craig James filed against Fox Sports last August.  Although that case is unrelated to this one, these both involve discrimination suits filed by television personalities versus Fox Sports. 


In mid December, Fox Sports 1 personality Colleen Dominguez ("Dominguez") filed an age discrimination suit against the company.  Dominguez, 46 years old, was hired by Fox Sports 1 on March 1, 2014.  She says the company described her as a "key personality" in the agreement and expected her to play a major role in its coverage.  

However, Dominguez claimed that her assignments soon began to diminish and even though she lined up interviews with professional golfer Rory McIlroy and San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner, Fox Sports 1 declined to approve the interview because "those interviews would 'muddy the waters' for FOX's other reporters."  As well, Dominguez said she e-mailed Fox Sports president Eric Shanks ("Shanks") in January 2015 to ask for more assignments, but Shanks allegedly never looked into it even though he said he would.

Dominguez also alleged in her complaint that a supervisor told her "we [FOX] don't handle veteran female reporters very well."  A FOX producer even apparently told her "you haven't done anything wrong at all.  Just because 5 men at a company want to be gratified by 24 year old women doesn't make you bad at your job."  Dominguez also alleged from co-workers that management was concerned how she "looked" on camera.  

In her complaint, Dominguez has asked for an unspecified amount of damages.  As litigation progresses, I would expect a monetary figure to eventually be plead.

As of this point, Fox Sports 1 has no comment on the matter.  Given the early stages of this litigation, it is hard to say what defenses Fox Sports 1 will raise to Dominguez's allegations.  Some of the claims she raises in her could certainly prove to be grounds for a valid Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA") suit.  However, until Fox Sports 1 files its answer, discovery is conducted, depositions taken, etc., it is still too early to know where this case will go.  Stay tuned.


A copy of the complaint can be found here:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/293549530/Dominguez-Lawsuit

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