After five hours of deliberation over two days, the federal jury in the Marina Kolbe v. CNN trial did not rule in favor of Kolbe, who claimed race and age discrimination by CNN when the network chose not to renew her contract in 2003. According to the Fulton County (GA) Daily Report, “jurors said that memos between network executives outlining an aggressive push by CNN beginning in 1999 to place minorities in designated jobs, while troubling, were not enough to prove that CNN had discriminated specifically against Kolbe, who is white.”
Jury forewoman Kathy Fuller said that despite the verdict, “We think she (Kolbe) was treated badly…There was no question they (CNN) did her wrong.”
CNN spokesman Nigel Pritchard told the paper, “We are obviously pleased with the jury’s verdict. It not only shows that CNN does not discriminate, but also validates CNN’s commitment to diversity.”
Kolbe’s attorney, Edward D. Buckley III, said, “We tried to shine a light on something we thought was very, very wrong at CNN and at Turner Broadcasting.”