blogs: Rick Redding 

Former WBKI station manager and morning show co-host Dan Spangler has filed a lawsuit in Jefferson Circuit Court against the owners of the station, claiming he was wrongfully terminated last June. Spangler's lawsuit includes charges of religious discrimination and racism, as well as an accusation that Iowa-based Fusion Communications lied to Spangler about its intentions to retain him as an employee after the deal to buy the station from Cascade Broadcasting was completed. According to the suit, Spangler claims that Fusion Manager Partner Jeff Lyle asked him an "intensely personal and prying question" during a car ride after a lunch meeting. The question was what his personal religious beliefs were. Spangler answered that he was a "non-practicing Catholic." Lyle, he said, also responded to a story Spangler told about bad restaurant service in New Orleans by saying the waiter was on "CPT", which he later explained was "colored people time." This, even though Spangler had not mentioned the race of the waiter. Lyle also made an assumption, during a conversation about a station employee, that the staffer was Jewish. Fusion president Dave McAnally is accused of making racist statements. During a discussion of CW Network programming, in which several African-American shows were discussed, McAnally commented that "It looks awfully dark during this time of day," according to the suit. McAnally, Spangler claims, quoted a Bible verse while reviewing a personality test taken by Spangler. Spangler claims Fusion officials told him the reason for his dismissal was economic, but says he now believes that Fusion execs believed he was leaking information about the station's plans to a rival broadcasting operation, most likely WDRB-TV in Louisville, which had previously shown an interest in the station. This claim has injured Spangler's reputation, he says. From the suit: "Since Mr. Spangler's termination, Mr. McAnally has informed individuals that he has "irrefutable proof" that Mr. Spangler disclosed terms of a private deal between Fusion and and another broadcast company in an effort to undermine that deal." The lawsuit, in a section claiming religious discrimination, notes that Spangler's replacement at the station is a "practicing Christian and attends Southeast Christian Church in Louisville." Spangler was replaced on the morning show by Craig Hoffman. The suit seeks an unspecified amount in compensatory and actual damages, including damages for embarrassment and humiliation. Spangler, who lives in Oldham County, remains unemployed.

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	Erin   thu jan 21 2010 at 9:56 am         ·  Wow, good to know. Dan is a wonderful person and hate that he is involved in this situation.
	Yes Its Me   thu jan 21 2010 at 10:21 am         ·  The lawsuit, in a section claiming religious discrimination, notes that Spangler's replacement at the station is a "practicing Christian and attends Southeast Christian Church in Louisville." This is a bunch of crap here. Seriously, lets find the biggest church in Louisville. Oh Craig Hoffman goes there. Sweet, I'll base my suit off of this! This just doesn't seem legit. How many people have you ever heard of being fired from their job based upon their religious views. I can't think of anyone. I'm sure there are tons of other reasons that Spangler was let go for that aren't listed. Being a good person certainly does not make you a good employee. Sometimes decisions have to be made to move on from certain employees.
	Steve Magruder   thu jan 21 2010 at 11:20 am         ·  At best, it appears that Spangler was working in a discriminatory work environment as the station was changing hands, and even if this suit goes nowhere, it makes a powerful statement that employees shouldn't tolerate this kind of behavior in their management. Also, I don't see how anyone can call this a "bunch of crap" without knowing the details in the suit. I guess this boils down to the "opinions and a--holes" analogy.
	Yes Its Me   thu jan 21 2010 at 12:21 pm         ·  I know what you're saying about that. However we're mostly getting only one side of the story. I've heard the guy say some inappropriate things over the air HIMSELF, and for him to blow this suit up, then it must have been some major things said. I see this suit going nowhere though.
	frederic   thu jan 21 2010 at 2:09 pm         ·  This doesn't sound legit, but mostly because "McAnally" doesn't sound like a real name.
	frederic   thu jan 21 2010 at 3:06 pm         ·  Yeah. Turns out it's a real name, and is related to McLovin.
	chuck   thu jan 21 2010 at 3:12 pm         ·  I would just like to take this opportunity to blame religion, in whose name tons of stupid stuff gets done (and rationalized). :-)
	Ultimaratio1   fri jan 22 2010 at 11:45 am         ·  There are a LOT more Catholics in Louisville than members of Six Flags Over Jesus. A judicious choice of jurors with Irish-sounding names would boost the chances for the lawsuit. If I were the station's lawyer and realized the jury was made up of people with names like O'Leary and Finnegan, I'd settle. LOL.
	Mark S   fri jan 22 2010 at 2:18 pm         ·  Good luck Dan!
	Fred F #322330   tue jan 26 2010 at 2:39 pm         ·  I agree with "yes its me." This seems very thin. What kind of information could he possible leak that would cause them to fire him? Perhaps he was feeding rival stations who his next guest on the show was going to be. Come on! "McAnally, Spangler claims, quoted a Bible verse while reviewing a personality test taken by Spangler." So? This is lame and isn't worth the time people will now need to spend defending it. You got fired! I hate when people do petty stuff like this. JUST MOVE ON.