Former KDVR contributor Tom Martino is suing the Denver FOX affiliate because he says the station let him go when he filed for bankruptcy in 2011.
Martino, known as “The Troubleshooter,” appeared in regular segments on KDVR as well as a Denver AM radio station.
His lawsuit alleges the station let him go after it learned he was filing for bankruptcy. Martino claims the move violated federal protections.
Martino is no stranger to the headlines lately. He was arrested in December for allegedly punching his wife in the face while the two were waiting a a stoplight.
The Denver Post reports KDVR said it didn’t renew his contract because ‘it wanted a host with “less personality.’ That Martino filed for bankruptcy had nothing to do with it, according to the case filed in U.S. District Court in Denver.”
Individuals who filed for bankruptcy protection are protected by federal law from employers who toss them as a result. KDVR and its owner, Community Television of Colorado, say the law only applies to firings that come after bankruptcy has been filed and cited case law to support that defense.
Martino’s lawyer — the same one who helped him with the Chapter 7 case from which he was discharged last year — said although the station told Martino of its intent to not renew his contract shortly after he announced his bankruptcy intent in a website blog posting, the contract actually ended several days after he filed Chapter 7 in September 2011.
KUSA reported in 2011, “According to a bankruptcy filing, Martino has about $1.37 million in assets and owes creditors more than $78 million. Martino is disputing that figure and says his debts are closer to $36 million.”
The Post reports neither side is expected to talk about the suit since “both sides recently agreed to confidentiality provisions for documents shared in the course of their discovery.”
Click here to read the entire Denver Post report.