Ex-KHON
reporter sues
station for bias

Barbara Marshall says
KHON's manager made
discriminatory statements

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By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin

Former television reporter and executive producer Barbara Marshall filed a lawsuit yesterday alleging age, sex and race discrimination against KHON-TV.

The complaint filed in Circuit Court says Vice President and General Manager William Spellman and News Director Jim McCoy made statements that the television station needed younger people to appeal to a younger demographic.

McCoy made "statements about getting rid of the 'two aging haoles'" and that "he had to terminate the older employee to get younger people on the set," according to the complaint. It says a white male employee was later terminated.

Marshall alleges in the complaint that McCoy made discriminatory comments to her and other employees "about her ability to perform and enthusiasm about work, given her age."

McCoy responded to the allegations by reading a written statement, "KHON does not discriminate on the basis of age, race or sex, and Ms. Marshall's allegations are completely meritless."

Spellman, who has been at KHON-TV for less than a year, said he could not comment on pending litigation.

Marshall would not give her age, declining comment on the suit. She is suing for an unspecified amount in damages for past and future lost wages, injury to her reputation, mental and emotional distress, anguish and humiliation, and for punitive damages.

Marshall alleges that when she was informed that her contract was not being renewed, she was never given any reason and never told she was not doing her job satisfactorily. The complaint states a male employee with less television news experience was hired as her replacement.

Marshall had worked on and off camera as reporter, editor and executive producer over the years at Channel 2. Prior to Aug. 22, when she allegedly was told "to pack her things," she served as executive producer and was no longer on the air.

On the sex discrimination claim, Marshall said McCoy had informed her and other female employees on numerous occasions that if they wanted a raise, they had to get another job offer from another company, but male employees were not similarly treated.

Marshall's attorney, Ernest Nomura with the law firm of Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda, said he and his client had no comment on the case.