Two Employees Sue Fox News, Claiming Injury From Exposure To Mold & Pesticides

“Two Fox News employees are suing the cable news channel for allegedly ignoring a toxic stew of mold and pesticides in its Manhattan headquarters,” today’s NY Daily News reports. “But Fox News said the charges are bogus, claiming its studios at 1211 Sixth Ave. have a clean bill of health from federal and state regulators.”

Graphics operator Laurette DeRosairo and make-up artist Madronicia Clarke “said they became seriously ill after being exposed to mold and pesticides in the basement studios and control rooms starting in 2004. They also claim their bosses used unlicensed workers to spray an insecticide that had been banned for use indoors.” TVNewser first reported on the incesticide allegations in June.

Fox News spokeswoman Irena Briganti said the allegations in the lawsuit “are baseless and lack merit.” The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration “has since declined to investigate this further and the [state Department of Environmental Conservation] did an on-site investigation after which the matter was fully resolved. Fox News is in full compliance with both OSHA and DEC guidelines.”

> Also: According to court papers filed in state Supreme Court, “the fumes got so bad last April that it sickened three anchors on the morning newscast ‘Fox and Friends.'”