KSNV Files First Response to Sue Manteris’s Discrimination Lawsuit

By Merrill Knox 

Attorneys representing KSNV, the Las Vegas station named in a discrimination lawsuit filed by former anchor Sue Manteris, asked a federal judge on Wednesday to require Manteris to settle her dispute with the station through arbitration.

KSNV’s lawyers at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C. claim that Manteris signed eight contracts in her 22 years with the station — the last five of which stipulate that any employment disputes be settled through arbitration.

“Accordingly, the court should order this case to binding arbitration immediately and stay this matter pending the outcome of the case,” they wrote to U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro.

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In their filing, station lawyers also claim that the first internal complaint Manteris filed was after she was informed that her contract, which is worth $190,000 annually, would not be renewed when it expired on June 10. KSNV attorneys did not say why they preferred the case to be arbitrated, but arbitration proceedings and case files are closed to the public.

Manteris, who was with KSNV for 22 years before leaving last month, alleges the decision not to renew her contract was based on age, gender and racial discrimination. The lawsuit names news director  Bob Stoldal general manager and Lisa Howfield.

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