Gerardo Lago, a longtime WABC editor and photographer, has filed an $18 million lawsuit against ABC and Disney, alleging that he suffered repeated verbal abuse from staffers at the station.
According to Reuters, Lago is accusing three WABC reporters–Lauren Glassberg, Kemberly Richardson, and Stacey Sager–of making “abusive, offensive and demeaning” comments towards him based on his hispanic heritage.
In the lawsuit, Lago details incidents in which the reporters yelled profanities at him during shoots and were overly critical of his editing. On one incident:
Lago was the cameraman for Glassberg’s “Neighborhood Eats” segment. On many occasions she told people being taped to excuse Lago “as he does not speak English,” the lawsuit said.
Rosemarie Arnold, Lago’s lawyer, said her client has a slight accent, but speaks “perfect English.”
Lago worked at WABC for over two decades before being put on medical leave last October, according to Reuters. After he refused to undergo an independent, psychological examination, the station suspended Lago without pay on February 3rd.
Here’s a recent “Neighborhood Eats” segment from Glassberg: