Overview
- The Dec. 8 filing asks the court to toss four of six counts, including gender discrimination, defamation, untimely payment of wages, and tortious interference claims.
- Defense attorneys argue Merrill’s allegations lean on an unfounded DEI stereotype and do not plausibly establish unlawful discrimination.
- They contend meteorologist Jason Mikell’s report to management was legally protected and that WBZ president Justin Draper’s demotion announcement was true and not malicious.
- Two counts currently remain — race discrimination and failure to investigate — and the corporate defendants received additional time to answer those claims.
- Merrill’s suit stems from an April 2024 pronunciation dispute that preceded an internal finding of microaggressions, a warning, required training, a demotion, and her May 2024 resignation, and she seeks $4 million in damages.