ABC Information Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit From Ex-‘Good Morning America’ Producer

Former Good Morning America producer Kirstyn Crawford has settled a authorized battle in opposition to ABC Information, which she accused of sweeping underneath the rug a number of sexual harassment allegations in opposition to her then-boss and ex-senior information govt Michael Corn.

A stipulation was filed on Friday in New York state courtroom shifting for dismissal of the case “with prejudice,” which means it can’t be refiled, in opposition to ABC and Corn, who allegedly assaulted Crawford throughout a 2015 work journey to Los Angeles for the Academy Awards. Attorneys for Crawford, ABC and Corn signed the doc. Phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.

In a press release, an ABC Information spokesperson thanked Crawford “for courageously talking out about her expertise at ABC Information.” The rep added, “Ms. Crawford thanks ABC Information for its immediate response to her formal criticism in 2021.”

A lawyer for Corn, who has denied the accusations, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The senior govt producer of Good Morning America abruptly departed the community in April 2021. After Crawford sued the corporate and Corn in August that yr, an impartial investigation over the way it responded to allegations of assault and harassment was introduced.

The lawsuit revolved round claims that Corn in 2015 “pulled Crawford’s head into his chest and started kissing her and rubbing her legs” throughout a enterprise journey to Los Angeles. It additionally included allegations from former ABC Information producer Jill McClain, who accused Corn of assaulting her on two separate work journeys. In a single incident in 2010, Corn allegedly “pinned her down on a resort mattress, pulled down the highest of her jumpsuit, and fondled her naked breasts” after he forcibly entered her resort room.

Crawford claimed that ABC knew that Corn “had a propensity to sexually harass feminine colleagues” from a number of different ladies who had reported him to human assets and senior administration. She argued the community “regarded the opposite method” and promoted Corn “attributable to his business success as a producer,” facilitating the “hostile office that [he] cultivated by means of his affect over subordinates’ careers, sexual harassment, gaslighting, and anger administration points.”

A New York appeals courtroom in Might revived some claims, together with for hostile work atmosphere and intercourse discrimination, that had been dismissed by the decide overseeing the case, who discovered that they had been introduced previous the statute of limitations. It additionally concluded that accusations from McClain, who wasn’t a plaintiff within the lawsuit, shouldn’t be precluded “as any proof relating to these allegations could also be related to plaintiff’s hostile work atmosphere declare,” in response to the order.

An allegation that the community engaged in quid professional quo harassment was stored out of the lawsuit since “there isn’t a allegation that Corn denied [Crawford] a promotion through the limitations interval,” the appeals courtroom dominated.