Jun 7, 2012
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A former anchor at The Weather Channel is suing the network after she said she was fired over a dispute involving her military service.
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Nicole Mitchell, an Air Force Reserve Officer and a member of the “Hurricane Hunters” team, has accused The Weather Channel and NBC of discrimination and violating her rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.
Mitchell said she began to experience harassment about her military service just after The Weather Channel was purchased by NBC, Bain Capital and the Blackstone Group, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.
Court papers allege NBC bosses made explicit complaints about her military service schedule and created a “hostile working environment” for the anchor.
Mitchell, who holds the rank of captain, was an on-air meteorologist for The Weather Channel from 2004 until 2011 – when her contract was not renewed. She is a highly decorated officer who flies aboard a “Hurricane Hunter” and her military expertise was especially noted during the network’s hurricane coverage.
But after the network was purchased by NBC/Universal, Mitchell said network executives ordered her to get clearance before agreeing to any military assignments.
“I was told in an email, ‘before you agree to military duty, you need to clear it through us first,’” Mitchell told Fox News Radio. “If you don’t show up for orders, you could be court-martialed.”
The Weather Channel released a statement to Fox News Radio declining to comment on the specifics of the case.
Spokesman David Blumenthal said the network “is committed to creating a work atmosphere free of discrimination and in compliance with The Uniformed Services Employment Reemployment rights Act of 1994.”
Blumenthal said some of Mitchell’s allegations were inaccurate, but declined to provide specific examples.
“We disagree with many of the assertions in the plaintiff’s press statements and intend to vigorously defend the matter in the arbitration process,” he said.
Lance LoRusso, Mitchell’s attorney, called The Weather Channel and NBC’s behavior “deplorable.”
“It is not a matter of providing lip service and saying you support the military,” he told Fox News Radio. “You cannot interfere with their service. You cannot provide harassment or a hostile environment to them and if you do – you are subject to sanctions.”
An incident involving a missed hair appointment seems to be where Mitchell’s career at The Weather Channel.
LoRusso said his client received a telephone call ordering her to appear for a Sunday hair consultation.
“They said quite clearly, ‘this is non-negotiable, no excuses,’” LoRusso said.
But Mitchell did have an excuse – she was on weekend military duty – and Mitchell had given the network advance notice of her responsibilities.
“She was told that was not a good answer,” he recounted. “They gave her a hard time, but she stuck to her guns.”
It wasn’t long before she was transferred from a Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. anchor shift on “Your Weather Today” to a Monday-Friday, 10 p.m.-2a.m. shift.
And LoRusso believes she Mitchell was removed from her star role because she’s a weekend warrior.
“Here we truly believe that the scheduling and the fact that her Reserve duty was up against a schedule of NBC and The Weather Channel – was a motivating factor in their decision,” he said. “That is illegal.”
Mitchell joined the Air National Guard when she was 17-years-old – and the network was well aware of her military commitments when she was hired, LoRusso said.
“It’s not a matter of courtesy,” he said. “It’s a matter of obligation. Our military cannot function as a volunteer force if the individual employers can control when our service members can appear and when they shouldn’t.”
LoRusso noted the irony of NBC’s sponsorship of a pro-military campaign called, ‘Got Your 6’ – vowing to support service members.
“Well, you should start in house,” he said.
FOX News Talk
NBC Liberals hate the military and anything to do with it. You can be sure that this will be swept under the media sights(except on FOX) because NBC supports the Obama cronies.
If this lady is speaking the truth, then I hope she sticks it to NBC. I used to love the weather channel, but it isn't what it used to be!
The weather channel sucks anyway maybe Fox can start a weather channel and give you a job and put the hypocrite weather channel out of business hum sounds awesome.
Weather Channel "YOU AIN'T WORTH A SH*T"! who are you to tell an airman she has to clear her reporting to duty through you? screw you! She had an obligation!
You just can't pay for PR like this.
Go NBC, go all the for stupid, you KNOW you want to!
How about it Comcast?
Ready to ride off the cliff FORWARD with the lemmings?
make that "all the way for stupid"
I'm with you guys.
Anything affiliated with MSNBC is on the wrong side of America. I quit watching after NBC took over and ruined the channel.
Weather Channel lost their conscience when NBC bought them!
I was one of the biggest weather channel fans ever, I watched hours and hours a day even keeping up on weather system days before they would arrive here in nc! then the big change, global warming and green bs every 2 minutes, they even started to show movies, it was enough to turn my stomach in stead I turned the channel and never went back! Mrs. Mitchell was one of my favorites and one of the hottest on the network, she should feel honored to have been booted from that sewer pit of liberalism. I would bet my left eye she will be gainfully employed within days!
The Weather Channel jumped the shark years ago. I only watch it now during hurricanes, so I can watch Jim Cantore over-react to a strong breeze. Also hoping for some more mooning by passersby as the talking head exaggerates how dangerous things are.
Thanks for your service Mam! Don't worry about the anti American leftys, they are about done.
Her contract was allowed to expire – why is she allowed to even file a lawsuit? This should be a very quick case—to deny her claim.
How any competent HR staffer would ever sign off on this decision is beyond me. USERRA clearly states that any service personnel get the same position back, unless the position is eliminated. The position wasn't eliminated. If her lawyer is good he might be able to wiggle in employer retribution as well for her move to a lesser position / time slot. I'm actually shocked that the executives didn't appear to perform due diligence before releasing her. I work with military leaves in my job regularly and there are countless case studies available indicating NBC will have a VERY tough time defending this suit. USERRA is a law, not a guideline.
There are too many other places to find information on weather. I wondered when she left the "Feather Channel , if her military service had something to do with it. I am officially don't with the Weather Channel. I hope she racks 'em right where it hurts. I have grown tired of the constant barage of "weather history" and all the other crap that runs at night instead of weather. And Al Croker can kiss my ass, what a dweeb. Weather Channel I shall block channel 362 on my DirecTv. Good riddance!
Tim,its just tv. Lol!!! Dont stress!
Well she is really purdy!!! And , it's the principal of the matter. She flies into the eyes of hurricanes to garner information to try to protect us and let us know what's coming and they treat her with disrespect. She has a nice butt as well!!!
Niiiice, Tim!
Everything NBC touches turns to crap. This is true about the Weather Channel too. What happened to showing the "WEATHER". Not the stock report, nation news or Coast Guard Alaska. Just the weather!
Ah but the Nothing But Crap(NBC) network owns it now. Good Luck Nicole Mitchell, I hope you put the light on those left wing cockroaches. Nicole Mitchell god bless you and thank you for your service! To the bosses at NBC, Hope you go out of business and go broke.
Excellent Mark! I heard NBC stood for the NoBodyCares Network, but I like yours better. It is truly sad for a network when one of their best shows they have going is the one that shows the countries most hardened criminals doing time in prison.
This is a mirror image of what I had to deal with back in 1994-96. Shakin my head.
Their loss, hope it's millions.
Gee another great patriotic process by NBC …the NeverendingBarrack Channel…do not watch The Weather Channel and never will
I do agree with the majority of these comments. I would expect nothing left from this network. As for the global warming issue, it started as "man made global warming" so Al Gore & his cronies could make billions of dallars, which they have. Here is some real scientific evidence, THE EARTH HAS BEEN WARMING SINCE THE LAST ICE AGE ENDED! Duh!
This wonderful lady certainly seems to have a powerful case, and it is certainly no surprise to read of NBC with its liberal slant would be guilty of treating a military officer so badly. This is but one of recent stories of veterans being shamefully and illegally discriminated against. There was a story the other day of a person being denied housing due to a landlords bias. Shameful.
Just another big business not in favor of our military. And yes our military defends your freedom! You should be thankful not hateful! Thankyou for your service!
So many of these stations are getting very low ratings…if people would stop watching them…they might get the message and clean up their act! I said, they might…some people never change…but at least their ratings would be down!
TWC has sucked for a long time. It's path is like MTV's: Less and less real weather, and more entertainment crap.
Fox needs to put together a weather network to up against TWC and blow them out of the water like what Fox News has done to CNN.
I'd go for that. A "no spin" zone for tornadoes and hurricanes. Good idea! (For the humor impaired, that's a joke)
NBC screwed up a good station
You would think that any high profile media would try and use their armed forces people to connect with the normal working class people, but for some reason they really don't understand what is going on with the regular working class.
rock on, hope ya win….continue to do the great things you do, I hope you win one for us military/vet folks…..and for every other American who gets pushed around by the Man.
The Weather Channel just lost another viewer also! How dare they do this to someone who has worked their way up to Captain in the military and obviously loves her country. Good Luck to you Captain Mitchell! You deserve better than this and I hope you win this lawsuit.
NBC owns TWC, so this type of conduct on their part is to be expected. NBC is no longer a news organization, they are a propaganda tool for the left.
NBC does not directly own TWC. TWC is owned by a consortium comprised of NBC, Bain Capital, and the Blackstone Group. That said, the *sshats at TWC need to get their clocks cleaned.
http://feedback.weather.com/knowledgebase/articles/27826-who-owns-the-weather-channel-
USERRA clearly favors the servicemember. I must say, she will win this one.
This isn't the first scandal involving the weather channel either. They have had anchors who have been sexually harassed and fired illegally before. I think it's time for them to be investigated.
And that spokesman is paid to lie like the little shit he is.
How disrespectful, She is a highly decorated Captain in the United States Air Force give her the respect that is due. Funny She needs to clear with them before she agrees to any military orders? Who is she working for don't they know orders are orders, agree she agreed when she was 17 years old and signed up and it's career standing and if she disobeys them orders they WILL court martial her. They need to clear what they want from her around her commitment to this country not the other way around. Respect our Soldiers damnit!
Seriously, these people are a dumb as a box of rocks and that's insulting the rocks!
WTFO? Aim High Nicole, the Air Force Vets are behind you!
she's sexy why would they let her go? I'll bet she's great in bed.
weather channel aka wake up to Hal Roker 'F'-em, 'F'-em all especially knowing Roker is proof 2 legged bred with 4 legged.
I haven't watched TWC much the past few years, but the channel sure didn't seem to be the resource it used to be as I watched its reality shows on vacation in the Outer Banks while what was becoming TS Alberto was brewing off the coast of NC and SC. I had to figure out what was going on by examining satellite and radar images and from wunderground.com.
Now, hearing about the NBC thing, I understand what has happened. The NBC thing also explains how TWC, which relies on the hurricane hunter crews that risk their lives to protect others while graciously accommodating TWC as they have for years, would bite one of the members of that fine team.
I recommend wunderground.com as a viable alternative resource.
Color me gone from the channel. I am retired Navy after 23 years and there are other choices for weather. Good bye Weather Channel.
Thank you for your service, Captain Mitchell. I want to wish you the best. It make me feel secure knowing people like you are in our military protecting this great country. You and the thousands like you are the real heros and heroines of this country.
The Weather Channel used to be a channel that reported weather constantly 24/7. Now, they are a channel filled with adventure shows, with a little weather being reported here and there. I was educated about weather by The Weather Channel, now you have to wait for a certain hour to tune in and find out if it's going to rain tomorrow. Sad what they've become.
their pretty bad now we stopped watching them months ago the syfi channel was good now its not worth watching and msnbc isn't fit to watch to far left for me.
If anyone believes anything this nutcase network thinks they are idiots. It is run be loons. Biased in everything they do. Left wing, dead end crazies. They would be extreme for China.
NBC = NOTHING BUT COMMUNISTS.
NUFF SAID
CAPT Mitchell has my admiration and respect. The Weather Channel and NBC should not only be required to give her job back (the better time slot), and any promotions she would have received, but should also be required to publically apologize.
NBC is well known for being over-the-top liberals and anti-military. Just listening to almost any show on MSNBC shows there negative slant on anything military-oriented or having to do with the wars.
Law is the Law, hang them out to dry and shrivel up!
no more weather channel for me!
I used to love the Weather Channel. When we lived in Denver, I'd watch it almost every day, esp. during tornado season. Why on earth would they sell-out to NBC of all companies? It's one of the worst out there, so liberal and proud of it. Now NBC does this against our military. I'm soooo not surprised.
Too bad we can't vote NBC out this fall along with their precious Barrock. Fact is that main stream meadia will lose ratings faster than ice caps melting. They think we all want to live like the loons in LA. NBC = Nothing But Crap.
I have been serving for a little over 6 years as Active Duty. When I'm done my dream is to be a meteorolgist/storm chaser. I also want to continue my service in the guard for the love of my country. Looks like I will not be putting in for a job at the Weather Channel……how sad and Blessed Be our weekend warriors that help us AD out so much.