Ex-CNN anchor Chris Cuomo is seeking $125 million in damages after being sacked, calling his firing "the epitome of hypocrisy" by the scandal-plagued, third-place network, according to legal filings filed Wednesday.
Cuomo claimed that his former company has a long-established pattern and practice of selectively implementing its regulations based on cynical assessments of public perception in a fiery filing with the JAMS mediation and arbitration agency.
Chris Cuomo Calls Dismissal "Unlawful"
According to the petition, the sum sought by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's brother is based on the missed back pay, incentives, and future earnings, but it's largely because Chris was disparaged by former boss Jeff Zucker and fellow CNN anchors, according to New York Post.
Chris Cuomo was terminated just days after the New York attorney general disclosed a cache of emails and text messages revealing that he was closely involved in offering strategic counsel to his brother, Andrew M. Cuomo, who was facing a major sexual harassment controversy while serving as governor of New York.
Jeff Zucker, CNN's president at the time, dismissed Chris Cuomo. Chris has claimed that Zucker was aware of his transactions with his brother, a claim disputed by Zucker.
Chris Cuomo was the subject of an internal inquiry commissioned by WarnerMedia, CNN's parent company, which put Zucker in jeopardy as well. After the inquiry discovered that Zucker had omitted to disclose a romantic relationship with the network's chief of marketing and communications, Allison Gollust, he resigned under duress in early February.
Zucker and Gollust have disputed that "the inquiry uncovered violations of company regulations, including CNN's journalism standards and procedures, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Chris Cuomo."
Cuomo's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said on Wednesday that it "should by now be evident that Chris Cuomo did not lie to CNN about aiding his brother," according to a CNN spokesperson. Cuomo's court action was first reported by Deadline on Wednesday.
That $125 million is broken out into around $18 million in wages and incentives reportedly owing to Cuomo under his CNN contract, as well as any future profits. Sources believe there are "consequential damages" of roughly $100 million since Cuomo's contract includes a "non-disparagement provision" that was not followed when he was fired "effective immediately" on December 4 after sexual misconduct allegations were made against the suspended host, New York Times reported.
Chris Cuomo Claims CNN Smeared His Integrity
The former CNN anchor said in his petition on Wednesday that the management requested the interviews despite his and his brother's concerns. According to him, Zucker and Gollust attempted to deepen the network's links to his brother by pressuring him not to appear on other networks. They suggested that the governor hold his daily briefings at a time when CNN's ratings needed a lift, he added.
Cuomo also included two former colleagues in his complaint, alleging that Don Lemon and Jake Tapper were never disciplined for ethical lapses involving Lemon texting Jussie Smollett after the actor was accused of making false allegations of a racist attack, and Tapper allegedly offering political advice.
The former "Cuomo Prime Time" anchor claimed that the network standards were "a movable target," adjusted as Zucker and Gollust saw appropriate. Chris Cuomo will find it challenging to find work in his sector in the future because his journalistic integrity has been "unjustifiably maligned," according to the complaint, which wants $125 million in damages.
Zucker quit under duress earlier this year when it was found that he had broken company policy by failing to disclose his relationship with Gollust. She was ejected shortly after that, as per 12 News.
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