The sum sought by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's brother is based on missed back pay, incentives, and future profits, according to the petition, but mostly because Chris was disparaged by former boss Jeff Zucker and fellow CNN anchors.
Chris was sacked for assisting his brother in the investigation of sexual harassment charges, prompting the governor's quick demise and eventual resignation.
CNN dismissed Zucker and his lover Allison Gollust after it was revealed they were having an unreported relationship while also having close links to Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement to The Washington Post, "It's a big deal."
“In fact, as the limited information released from WarnerMedia’s investigation makes clear, CNN’s highest-level executives not only knew about Chris’s involvement in helping his brother but also actively assisted the Governor, both through Chris and directly themselves.”
Referencing reports that Zucker and Gollust advised then-Gov. Cuomo about how to handle his infamous COVID daily briefings, Freedman continued, “As CNN has admitted, network standards were changed in a calculated decision to boost ratings. When those practices were called into question, Chris was made the scapegoat.
“The legal action filed today makes clear that CNN wrongfully terminated Chris and further violated the express terms of his employment agreement by allowing its employees to disparage him. Chris is owed a full apology from those responsible.”
The demand for arbitration filed Wednesday states, “As a result of Turner’s indefensible choice to unceremoniously fire him, Cuomo has been damaged in countless ways.”
“Cuomo has had his journalistic integrity unjustifiably smeared, making it difficult if not impossible for Cuomo to find similar work in the future and damaging him in amounts exceeding $125 million, which includes not only the remaining salary owed under the Agreement, but future wages lost as a result of CNN’s efforts to destroy his reputation in violation of the Agreement,” the court document said.
The filing adds. “Cuomo now seeks to recover the full measure of his damages against Turner and CNN.”
That $125 million breaks down into around $18 million for earnings and bonuses allegedly owed to Cuomo on his CNN contract and anything he would have made in the future.
But sources say there are “consequential damages” of around $100 million because Cuomo has a “non-disparagement clause” in his contract that was not honored when he was terminated “effective immediately” on December 4 after claims of sexual misconduct were made against the already suspended host.
One source said, “Chris has a clause in his contract which states that CNN and WarnerMedia has to instruct their employees not to disparage him, even upon termination.
“But instead Zucker came out and said Chris was a liar and he didn’t tell us everything he did for his brother. Then all those anchors started hammering Chris both on air and behind the scenes.
“The truth is that even if CNN had grounds to fire him — which Chris believes they didn’t — even if he loses the wrongful termination action — he will win on breach of contract based on the non-disparagement agreement. And the damages for that will be astronomical.”
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